The stage of ovarian development affects organ expression of vitellogenin as well as the morphometry and ultrastructure of germ cells in the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium amazonicum (Heller, 1862).

The objective was to characterize vitellogenin expression in the ovary and hepatopancreas, and to describe the morphometry and ultrastructure of oocytes, in the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium amazonicum at various stages of ovarian development. Five ovarian stages were defined: (I) immature, (II) maturing, (III) mature, (IV) spawned, and (V) reorganized. Ovaries and hepatopancreas were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for vitellogenin expression. Vitellogenin expression in both ovary and hepatopancreas was predominantly widespread, beginning at Stage I, peaking at Stage III, and decreasing in Stages IV and V. Characterization of the ovary included measurement of the following germ cell types: oogonia (OG), and previtellogenic (PV), early vitellogenesis (EV), advanced vitellogenesis (AV), and mature (M) oocytes. Mean ± SD diameter of OG and EV oocytes in Stages I (14.2 ± 5.5 and 119.8 ± 15.7 μm) and II (17.9 ± 4.8 and 114.3 ± 34.6 μm), respectively, were significantly different from that in Stages IV (16.6 ± 4.7 and 107.0 ± 24.6 μm) and V (14.4 ± 4.1 and 101.0 ± 25.2 μm). Both scanning and transmission electron microscopy enabled identification of EV, AV and M oocytes based on the presence of a nucleus, and the organization and distribution of yolk in the cytoplasm. In summary, vitellogenesis occurred both in the hepatopancreas and ovary, with the ovary expressing vitellogenin starting as early as Stage I. This process promoted accumulation of yolk and growth of oocytes, thus favoring sexual maturation of females. This knowledge may be applied to improve production of farmed M. amazonicum.