Ovarian Staging in Eyestalk Ablated Females of Farfantepenaeus Paulensis: A Histologic, Morphometric, and Biochemical Analysis

Abstract

Abstract This study focuses on the ovarian maturation stages in Farfantepenaeus paulensis, which are reported for each stage with histologic, stereological, and morphometric analyses, as well as the specific female protein profile. Unilateral eyestalk-ablated females were dissected and the middle lobes of each ovary were rinsed in cold 100 mM phosphate buffered saline containing 0.001 PMSF, for light microscopic and biochemical analyses. Fragments of ovary were fixed in Bouin's solution, cut into 7 μm sections and stained for morphometric and stereological analyses. Immunohistochemistry was used for the detection of vitellin immunoreactivity. The ovarian protein profile was determined using ELISA, SDS-PAGE and Western blot assays. Five ovarian maturation stages were classified by histological analysis: immature, early maturing, late maturing, mature, and spent. Germ cell diameter varied from 48 μm (± 8) for oogonia in the immature stage to 224 μm (± 43) for vitellogenic oocytes in the mature stage. Protei...