ABSTRACT
The objectives of this chapter are to review the question about vitellogenin synthesis in marine invertebrates and to see what stage this subject has reached. In crustaceans, many studies are conducted on isopoda and amphipoda (particularly from 1980 to 1990); the most recent papers (1993--1995) are essentially focused on prawns, which are commercially important culture species. In other marine invertebrates, the literature is less abundant. The outcome of this comprehensive study is that, as generally in arthropods, marine invertebrates employ multiple and species-specific strategies of yolk protein synthesis. However, more data are still needed to clearly identify the sites of vitellogenin synthesis, particularly in penaeid shrimps. Work is now in progress to resolve the questions of hormonal regulation of synthesis and processing of vitellogenin synthesis. According to severcll authors, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay would be a very useful and promising method for quantification of vitellin and vitellogenin in response to stimulating or inhibiting hormones. Additional comparative studies are now needed on the groups, families, and species to define further the different models of yolk synthesis control.
