Abstract
Pubertal molt is a vital stage in the cultivation of mature female crabs in the aquacultural industry of Scylla paramamosain. Since fasting occurs during molting, which requires a large supply of energy, internal energy reserves are critical. However, the dynamics of energy supply during pubertal molt is not clear. This study focuses on the variations of carbohydrates and lipids in serum during the pubertal molt of S. paramamosain via a metabolomics approach. Eleven lipid or carbohydrate metabolic pathways were significantly influenced postmolt. A remarkable decrease in carbohydrates in serum suggested that free sugars were consumed for energy. A significant decrease in glucose and alpha-d-glucosamine 1-phosphate showed that chitin synthesis exhausted glycogen, resulting in insufficient glucose supply. An increase in l-carnitine and acetylcarnitine, and a significant decrease in 15 fatty acyls and 8 glycerophosphocholines in serum indicated that carnitine shuttle was stimulated, and β-oxidation was upregulated postmolt. In addition, astaxanthin, ponasterone A, and riboflavin in serum were significantly decreased postmolt. Eleven potential metabolite biomarkers were identified for pubertal molt. Taken together, carbohydrates and lipids were possibly major energy reserves in pubertal molt. This study suggests that an increase in carbohydrate and lipid levels in crab feed may alleviate the effects of fasting during molt and improve farm productivity in mature female crabs.
Highlights
Scylla paramamosain, known as the mud crab, is one of the most commercially important crustaceans distributed along the coast of southern China and broader Indo-Pacific countries [1]
In study,aacommon commonset setofof338 metabolites were identified in the serum metaboIn this this study, metabolites were identified in the serum metabolomic lomic profiles from preand post-pubertal molt Metabolite groups
Compared with the pre-pubertal molting group, carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms were remarkably affected after molting
Summary
Known as the mud crab, is one of the most commercially important crustaceans distributed along the coast of southern China and broader Indo-Pacific countries [1]. Pubertal molt is a growth process, but essential for the copulation and reproductive development of the female mud crab. Johnston et al, 2004 reported that protease or lipase activities in phyllosoma larvae were found to be significantly increased or decreased in stages I and IV, respectively, suggesting that protein catabolism provided energy during food deprivation, while lipids may be spared during fasting [25]. Pubertal molting initiates the copulation and reproductive development of female mud crabs, has multiple implications for life history traits, and possibly demands different metabolic requirements than those of related decapod taxa or development stages. This work provides the basis to fulfill energy-reserve requirements during during pubertal molting, and may lead to a marked improvement in the health and pubertal molting, and may lead to a marked improvement in the health and productivity productivity of mature female crabs in the aquacultural industry.
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