STUDIES ON HEMOCYANIN AND HEMOLYMPH PROTEIN-LEVELS OF PENAEUS-JAPONICUS BASED ON SEX, SIZE AND MOLTING CYCLE

1. Mean (+/- SE) haemolymph protein level was 64.78 +/- 4.06 and 62.24 + 4.13 mg/ml, while mean haemocyanin level was 0.78 +/- 0.05 and 0.72 +/- 0.05 mmol/l for male (12.45 +/- 0.60 g, N = 27) and female (12.41 +/- 0.68 g, N = 21) Penaeus japonicus, respectively, with no significant difference between the sexes. 2. Protein and haemocyanin in the haemolymph of shrimp significantly increased (P < 0.05) with increased weight in the range of 7.56 21.22 g (N = 70). 3. Among the moulting cycles tested, the shrimp had the highest mean (+/- SE) protein (74.90 +/- 4.61 mg/ml) and haemocyanin (0.73 +/- 0.04 mmol/l) at the D0 stage, and had the lowest protein (41.37 +/- 3.11 mg/ml) and haemocyanin (0.42 +/- 0.02 mmol/l) at the B stage. 4. Haemocyanin accounts for 64% (C stage) to 72% (D3 stage) of protein in the haemolymph of the shrimp (9.21 +/- 0.36 g), and accounts for 76% (females) to 80% (males) of protein in the haemolymph of the shrimp (12.43 +/- 1.17 g), respectively.