Determination site of vitellogenin synthesis in freshwater crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus at different maturation stages females

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the site of vitellogenin (Vg) synthesis at different stages of female maturation of freshwater crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus. PCR products of 1,100 bp and 900 bp were generated from genomic DNA in the first case, and hepatopancreas and ovary cDNAs in the second case. Results from RT-PCR analyses showed that the mRNA encoding the 3' end of the Vg cDNA was present in the hepatopancreas from secondary- vitellogenesis at first maturation, previously spawner and ovigerous females. The Vg mRNA was present simultaneously in the ovary from secondary-vitellogenesis at first maturation only, but was not detected at previously spawning and ovigerous females. This study provided evidence that the ovary plays a significant role in the production of this major egg yolk protein, but only in some stage of the vitellogenesis cycle.