Occurrence of gonadtropins like substance in the thoracic ganglion mass of the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain(Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura)

The identification and localization of vertebrate follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in crustaceans may further elucidate the regulation mechanisms in arthropod repro-duction.Using immunocytochemical staining techniques,this study has localized vertebrate FSH-like and LH-like substances in neurons in the subesophageal and thoracic ganglia from the thoracic ganglion mass (TGM) of Scylla paramamosain (Crustacea:Decapoda:Brachyura).Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has shown that the concentrations of both FSH-and LH-like sub-stances increased markedly in the TGM during the vitellogenic stage compared with that in the previtellogenic stage.These results indicate that substances resembling the vertebrate FSH and LH are present in S.paramamosain,and they may be involved in the development of the ovary as well as in ovulation.