Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Endocrine regulation of vitellogenesis in lobsters

Volume 52 Issue 2

*T. Subramoniam and R. Kirubagaran

Abstract

Endocrine control of reproduction in lobsters is reviewed. As in other malacostracans, female reproduction in lobsters is under a bi-hormonal regulatory system consisting of an inhibitory neuropeptide originating from the X-organ sinus gland complex resident in the eyestalk, and a variety of stimulatory hormonal factors of diverse chemical nature. Interestingly, in Homarus americanus, crustacean hyperglycemic hormones also play a part in stimulating vitello-genesis. While methyl farnesoate, a sesquiterpenoid secreted by mandibular organs as wellas the molting hormone ecdysteroids have been implicated with a positive control of vitellogenesis,our recent investigations have uncovered a role of vertebrate steroids such as estradiol 17β and progesterone in the control of vitelloge-nesis and post vitellogenic meiotic maturation in the spiny lobster Panulirus homarus . In addition, biogenic amines such as 5- hydroxy-tryptamine stimulate the release of gonad stimulating neuropeptides from brain and thoracic ganglia of P. homaraus.

Keywords

Vitellogenesis, lobsters, endocrine regulation, lobster reproduction

Date : 03-03-2011