Transcriptomic profiling and novel insights into the effect of AG ablation on gonad development in Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Androgenic glands (AGs) regulate male sexual differentiation in M. rosenbergii, and AG ablation may induce sex reversal and male-to-neofemale transformation. However, information on gonad development following AG ablation is scarce. To investigate the effects of gonad development and sex reversal after AG ablation, we utilized transcriptomic profiling, RT-qPCR, and histological and morphological observation. Transcriptomic profiling generated 42.32-42.92 million clean reads. A total of 94,747 unigenes were assembled with a total length, average length, N50, and GC content of 160,460,655 bp, 1693 bp, 3438 bp, and 39.86%, respectively. Hsp70, IGFBP7, Mar-Mrr, Serpin, TUBA3, CREB, EF1a, and BMP7 were identified as differentially expressed by gonad transcriptome profiling after AG ablation. Interestingly, the Rap1, Hippo, PI3K, oxytocin, thyroid hormone, and apoptosis signalling pathways were all found to be involved in the sex-reversal process by regulating cell proliferation and gonad development and maintaining homeostasis. Sexual morphology features and histological changes following AG ablation validated the sex reversal from male to neofemale. Sexual manipulation permits monosex culture while considerably improving output yield. Taken together, these findings provide insight into the sexual reversal mechanism of M. rosenbergii after AG ablation. The findings in this study may aid in the future investigation of the sex-reversal mechanisms in other decapod species and offer a new breeding and culture strategy for M. rosenbergii aquaculture industry.