Trypsin activity as a function of variation in shrimp Penaeus-indicus (Crustacea Arthropoda)

Abstract

The effect of varying ration size on trypsin activity was evaluated in postlarvae, juvenile and adult P. indicus maintained on a commercial pelleted feed. Total trypsin activity reported as mu m p-nitroanilide produced/minute/g tissue was lower (4.23-5.68 mu m) in postlarvae in comparison to juvenile (7.24-8.92 mu m) and adult (10.23-12.24 mu m) animals. Highest activity was detected at 12%, 8-12% and 4-6% in postlarvae, juveniles and adult P. indicus respectively which were the optimum ration sizes, while lowest activity was obtained in the starved animals. Specific activity however exhibited no significant variation with regard to ration size and starvation (P > 0.05).