Metabolomic Profiling Reveals Social Hierarchy-Specific Metabolite Differences in Male Macrobrachium rosenbergii
by
Liping Li
1,†,
Dayan Hu
2,†,
Jiongying Yu
1,
Xingyu Zheng
1,
Miaoying Cai
3,
Quanxin Gao
1 and
Shaokui Yi
1,*
1
School of Life Sciences, Huzhou University, Huzhou 313000, China
2
Huzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Huzhou 313000, China
3
Jiangsu Shufeng Prawn Breeding Co., Ltd., Gaoyou 225654, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Animals 2025, 15(13), 1917; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15131917
Submission received: 24 May 2025
/
Revised: 26 June 2025
/
Accepted: 27 June 2025
/
Published: 29 June 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Aquatic Animals)
Simple Summary
Macrobrachium rosenbergii males showed a social hierarchy of three morphotypes: blue-clawed males (BC), orange-clawed males (OC), and small males (SMs), arranged in descending order of social hierarchy. These morphotypes exhibit significant differences in growth performance and market value, which directly affect aquaculture economic efficiency. This study explored the reasons for the phenotypic differences of male M. rosenbergii from the perspective of metabolomics. The results showed that glutamate, prostaglandin E3, testosterone, arachidonic acid, serotonin, pentanoylcarnitine, and other metabolites were significantly different in different castes. In the future, it is possible to adjust the proportion of different morphotypes by adjusting key metabolic pathways or optimizing the aquaculture environment (such as feed formula and stocking density), thereby improving the growth performance and economic benefits of aquaculture production.
Abstract
The giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii, GFP) is a highly valuable crustacean species in global aquaculture. However, a social hierarchy exists among the distinct male morphotypes, specifically blue-clawed males (BC), orange-clawed males (OC), and small males (SMs). In this study, to identify the specific metabolites among BC, OC, and SM, hemolymph samples were collected for the untargeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry metabolomics (LC–MS). A total of 172, 546, and 578 significantly different metabolites (SDMs) were identified in OC vs. BC, SM vs. BC, and SM vs. OC, respectively. Notably, creatine and glutamate in BC males likely enhance their aggressive behavior through improved energy metabolism. In the SM group, the up-regulation of prostaglandin E3, testosterone, and arachidonic acid may lead to premature gonadal maturation and enhance immunity. Serotonin, Glu-Pro, and pentanoylcarnitine detected in OC males reflect their physiological need for rapid growth and adaptation to social behaviors. In the SM group, the up-regulation of prostaglandin E3, arachidonic acid, and testosterone may promote premature gonadal maturation and enhance immunodominance. These findings will enhance the understanding of the physiological basis of social hierarchy formation in male GFPs from a metabolomics perspective.
Keywords:
Macrobrachium rosenbergii; metabolomics; social hierarchy; aquaculture
