Endocrine regulation of egg production in economically important crustaceans

Significant advances have been made in crustacean reproductive endocrinolog y, especially in view of its application potential in aquaculture. Major co ntribution is in the isolation, characterization as well as functional role of eye-stalk neuropeptides, which control diversified physiological functi ons, including egg production. Their specific control over proximate endocr ine glands such as mandibular organ and Y-organ has relevance to the formul ation of control methods to enhance egg production in the commercially impo rtant crustaceans. Neuropeptide diversity as well as multiple peptide actio ns in the crustaceans call for intensified work in the field to gain greate r understanding towards their possible use in reproductive control. Plausib ility of biogenic amines and endogenous vertebrate-type steroids in the con trol of reproduction indicates the complexity of crustacean endocrinology a s well as their use in the formulation of control measures. A need for unde rstanding the vitellogenic processes together with the tissue response to v arious endocrine factors in controlling reproduction is also stressed.