Late Premoult (D2-D3)   Ecdysis (E)   Early Postmoult (A)            Early Premoult (D0-D1)   Intermoult (C)   Late Postmoult (B)

The moulting stages were determined according to Robertson et al. (1987). Key characters of different stages are the morphological changes occurring in the uropodes during moulting cycle. Briefly, in stage A, pigmented cellular matrix completely filled the setal bases. During stage B, cellular matrix retracted from the setal bases and a clear space was easily recognised in the bases. In stage C, the matrix was absent from the setal bases and the pigment seemed to form an epidermal line at the bases of the setal nodes. At the stage D0-D1 (early premoult) the pigment retracted from the bases of the setal nodes, leaving the old cuticle, and during D2-D3 (late premoult) the new developing setae were observed.


Related papers:
1) Ingrosso L., S. Marsigliante, L. Zilli, V. Zonno, C. Storelli, S. Vilella. A monoclonal antibody interferes with (Ba2+ and La3+-sensitive) calcium channels present in hepatopancreatic brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV)of Penaeus japonicus. International symposium on molecular basis of biomembrane transport, Monopoli (Bari)-Italy, June 12-14 1999

2) Verri T., L. Zilli, A Mandal, D Bossa, P.K. Mandal, L. Ingrosso, V. Zonno, S. Vilella, G. Ahearn, C. Storelli. D-glucose uptake in isolated cells of lobster hepatopancreatic epithelium. Experimental Biology 2000, San Diego-California, April 15-18 2000

3) Verri T., A. Mandal, L. Zilli, D. Bossa, P.K. Mandal, L. Ingrosso, V. Zonno, S. Vilella, G. Ahearn, C. Storelli. D-glucose transport in decapod crustacean hepatopancreas. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Liege-Belgium, July 24-28, 2000

4) Zilli L., S. Marsigliante, V. Zonno, T. Verri, G. Ahearn, C. Storelli, S. Vilella. Idendification of calcium channels in B cells of Penaeus japonicus hepatopancreas. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Liege-Belgium, July 24-28, 2000

5) Zilli L., T. Verri, V. Zonno, G. Ahearn, C. Storelli, S. Vilella. Presence of calcium channels in hepatopancreatic cells of different crustacean species. 51a Riunione Autunnale della Società Italiana di Fisiologia, Catania-Italy, September 25-27, 2000

6) Zilli L., G. Scordella, V. Zonno, C. Storelli, S. Vilella. Relationship between molt cycle and hepatopancreatic ephitelial cell composition in Penaeus (Marsupenaeus) japonicus. International Aquaculture Conference, Verona-Italy, April 26-27, 2001

7) Vilella S., L. Ingrosso, L. Zilli, R. Schiavone, V. Zonno, T. Verri, C. Storelli. D-glucose transport in the hepatopancreas of the decapod crustacean Penaeus japonicus. 17th Meeting of the European Intestinal Transport Group, S'Agaro (Girona)-Spain, May 5-8, 2001

8) Zilli L., R. Schiavone, G. Scordella, V. Zonno, S. Vilella. Relationship between molting stages and transporter activities in hepatopancreatic R cells of Penaeus japonicus. World Aquaculture 2002, Beijing International Convention Centre, Beijing-China, April 23-27, 2002

9) Zilli L., R. Schiavone, V. Zonno, G. Scordella, C. Storelli, S. Vilella. Relationship between molting stages and ATPase activity in hepatopancreatic R cells of Penaeus japonicus. 53o Congresso Nazionale della Società Italiana di Fisiologia, Ferrara-Italy, September 16-19, 2002

Articles:
1) T. Verri, Mandal A, Zilli L., Bossa D., Mandal PK, Ingrosso L., Zonno V., Vilella S., Ahearn G. and C. Storelli. D-glucose transport in decapod crustacean hepatopancreas. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A 130 (2001) 585-606

2) Zilli L., Schiavone R., Scordella G., Zonno V., Verri T., Storelli C., S. Vilella. Changes in cell type composition and enzymatic activities in the hepatopancreas of Marsupenaeus japonicus during the moulting cycle. Journal Comparative Physiology Part B 8 May (2003)

Authors:
Dr. Zilli Loredana [1]
Dr. Scordella Giuseppe [2]
Dr. Zonno Vincenzo[2]
Prof. Vilella Sebastiano[1]

[1] LABORATORY OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES UNIVERSITY OF LECCE
VIA PROVINCIALE LECCE-MONTERONI, 73100 LECCE, ITALY

[2] MARINE AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES RESEARCH CENTRE (M.A.R.C.)
FRIGOLE-LECCE, 73100 LECCE, ITALY

Correspondence to:
Prof. Vilella Sebastiano
Laboratory of Comparative Physiology,
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technology
University of Lecce
Via Provinciale Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy;
Tel: ++39 0832 298671;
Fax: ++39 0832 324220;
e-mail: sebastiano.vilella@unile.it