Recent progress of male sexual differentiation and development in the oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense): A review

Many researchers have focused on male sexual differentiation and development of the Macrobrachium nipponense in recent years. In this review, we highlight the status of knowledge about male sexual differentiation and development in this species by summarizing the chromosome analyses, major regulatory factors, identification of male reproduction-related genes and gene functional analyses. Fifty-two chromosomes have been identified in the testis of M. nipponense, which led to the identification of sex-related chromosomes in this prawn. Studies have shown that hormones secreted by the eyestalk, androgenic gland, and testis as well as 17-estradiol and environmental factors regulate the process of male sexual development in M. nipponense. The sex differentiation and development sensitive period was identified as post-larva 10 (PL10) to PL22; therefore, this time span is critical in the identification of male reproduction-related genes from M. nipponense. In this study, 80 male sex-related homologous genes were identified based on functional analysis in other species, and another 45 genes were considered to be strong male reproduction-related candidates based on their expression changes through performing multi-omics profiling analyses. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed 25 genes that were involved in the process of male sexual development in M. nipponense, and RNA interference showed that knockdown of the expression levels of SDHB, PDHE1, NFkBa, HSDL1 and ferritin delayed testis development. Use of Crispr-Cas9 technology and analysis of noncoding RNA should be further investigated, which will be effective in establishing an artificial technique to regulate the process of male sexual development in M. nipponense.

Automated summary

This review summarizes recent research on male sexual differentiation and development in Macrobrachium nipponense. It highlights the identification of sex-related chromosomes in the prawn, the role of hormones and environmental factors in the regulation of male sexual development, and the identification of male reproduction-related genes through functional and expression analyses. The study also suggests further investigation into the use of Crispr-Cas9 technology and noncoding RNA to regulate male sexual development in M. nipponense.