COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EFFECTS OF PROSTAGLANDIN E 2 ON cAMP LEVELS IN GONADS OF THE PRAWN MACROBRACHIUM ROSENBERGII AND THE CRAYFISH CHERAX QUADRICARINATUS

Abstract

We compared the effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in vitro, as reflected by cAMP levels, on ovaries and testes of the giant prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Decapoda, Caridea) and the redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (Decapoda, Astacidea). These decapods differ in their reproductive physiology, representing distinct reproductive strategies. In both ovaries and testes of M. rosenbergii, PGE2 (10 p9g/ml) significantly stimulated cAMP synthesis, the reaction being augmented by IBMX. In contrast, in both ovaries and testes of C. quadricarinatus, PGE2 had no effect on cAMP levels. In muscular tissue, which served as the control for both species, cAMP levels were unaffected by PGE2. This comparative study suggests a case of different responses to PGE2 in the gonads of 2 decapod species that have distinctly different reproductive biologies. The giant prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) (Decapoda, Caridea) and the red-claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens) (Decapoda, Astacidea) exhibit two distinct reproductive strategies, illustrating the great diversity of life cycles that have evolved during the evolution and diversifi