Abstract
In the crab Scylla serrata (Forskal), esterase activity has been estimated, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in the ovary, haemolymph, and hepatopancreas during various stages of the first ovarian maturation. Electrophoretic data concerning the detection of different esterase species indicate the pre-dominant occurrence of carboxylesterase both in the ovary and hepatopancreas. In the hepatopancreas, the carboxylesterase activity reaches its maximum during the period of high lipid mobilization, whereas, in the ovary, the maximum esterase activity coincides with active vitellogenesis. The accumulation of esterases within the oocyte is suggested to reflect their storage for future utilization during embryogenesis when the complex lipid yolk will be hydrolyzed. The occurrence of an acetylesterase fraction in the haemolymph corresponds to moulting, rather than reproduction. The other carboxylesterase found in the haemolymph shows activity in the major lipoprotein which is non-sex specific. As the haemolymph lipoproteins of crustaceans are known to be involved in the lipid transport, the carboxylesterase that is linked to this fraction is suggested to play a role in the translocation of lipid from the storage tissue to the site of utilization.
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