Histological Characteristics of Fat Bodies in the Puerulus of the Rock Lobster Jasus Edwardsii (Hutton, 1875) (Decapoda, Palinuridae)

The histochemical characteristics of fat bodies in the hemocoel of the puerulus and the postpuerulus of the New Zealand rock lobster Jasus edwardsii were examined. Each fat body spread from the distal tip of the anterior and intermediate lobes of the hepatopancreas to the hemocoel between the branchiostegite wall and inner carapace wall. The fat bodies stained intensively blue with Nile blue and blue black with Sudan black B and were PAS positive, suggesting that they contained acidic lipid and polysaccharides. The fat bodies got smaller as the lobsters developed, particularly as they changed from transparent to pigmented pucrulus. This reduction in size of fat body corresponded with increased lipid in the hepatopancreatic cells. These results suggest that the fat bodies are storage sites of nutrients which would provide a source of metabolic energy both for the active, long-distance swim by the puerulus and for subsequent developmental changes after settlement.