Ovarian Maturation in the Macrobrachium nipponense by Serotonin Injection

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of serotonin (5-HT) injection as a neurotransmitter on ovarian maturation in female Macrobrachium nipponense. The neurotransmitter was dissolved in saline and injected at concentrations of 1, 4, 8 and 12 µg g-1 body weight (BW) in 1st, 4th and 8th day of experiment. Control group was injected only with saline. At the injection of 1 µg g-1 BW, 68% of prawns reached to stage IV of development, but this rate decreased in other groups of 5-HT treatment. No female in control group reached to this stage. In addition, ovarian index was significantly highest (6.19±1.16%) at 1 µg g-1 BW (p < 0.05). The results suggest that 5-HT able to induce gonad maturation in M. nipponense.