M.D. Bindhuja, K. Revathi, C. Gopal and M. Meenakshi
Abstract
Variations in the biochemical composition of muscle, gonads (anterior, middle and posterior) and hepatopancreas were studied during ovarian maturation in the Indian white shrimp, Fenneropenaeus indicus. Among the biochemical composition, protein was found to be dominated followed by carbohydrate and lipid. During ovarian maturation, protein content was decreased in muscle and gonad whereas in hepatopancreas protein increases. Carbohydrate content in muscle decreases whereas its level increases in all other organs investigated. Lipid content increased in ovary during maturation whereas in muscle and hepatopancreas decline of energy reserves which indicate that hepatopancreas is the main source of glycolipoproteins contributing to the vitellogenic process. There was a significant (p<0.001) difference between the stages was observed.