Role of Digestive Gland in the Energetic Metabolism of Penaeus setiferus.

We determined the role of the digestive gland in the respiratory metabolism of Penaeus setiferus adult males as a step toward proposing a feeding schedule based on the cycle of activity in the digestive gland. We measured pre- and postprandial values for oxygen consumption rate and hemolymph glucose concentrations in live animals, and oxygen consumption rate and glycogen concentration in excised digestive gland. After the animals were fed, which enhanced general metabolic activity, these indices changed. There was a high correlation between the oxygen consumption rate of the animal and the glucose concentration in the hemolymph, and between the oxygen consumption rate by the digestive gland and the glycogen concentration in the digestive gland, all in relation to time after feeding. Correlations support the hypothesis that the energy demand depends upon the metabolic substrate concentration. In this theory, glucose sustains muscle activity (during ingestion of food) and glycogen is the product of the digestive gland during food assimilation. Our observations of metabolic dynamics during the feeding period allowed us to examine the feeding process. The metabolic activity of the digestive gland was highest 6 h after feeding. This could mean that assimilation, having started 2 h after food intake, peaked 6 h after feeding. Eight hours after feeding, the oxygen consumption rate of the digestive gland decreased and fell to values similar to those recorded for animals subjected to 72 h of fasting.