Abstract:Crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) is a neuropeptide hormone that is secreted by a subset of cells in the X-organ of the eyestalk. CHH plays a role in the regulation of ions and energy metabolism, molting, reproduction, and other important physiological processes in crustaceans. The gene has been cloned in a variety of crustacean species, owever, little is known about the pattern of expression in different tissues. We cloned the full-length Macrobrachium nipponense and used quantitative real-time PCR to detect the expression of gene, containing a 241 bp 5′-untranslated region (UTR), a 355 bp 3′UTR, and 408 bp open reading flame (ORF). The ORF encoded a 135 amino acid CHH precursor polypeptide. The mature peptide contained six conserved Cys residues in the CHH family. The C-terminus mature peptide was GK, which has the same characteristics as ES-CHH. Based on protein similarity comparison, the separated gene was classified into the type I CHH family of peptides. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that oriental river prawn CHH was most closely related to that of gene was expressed in all tissues tested in oriental river prawn. Expression was significantly higher in the eyestalk and testis than in the ovary (500 and 250 higher, respectively). gene expression was very high in the intestine and ventral nerve cord, but very low in the ovary, liver, brain, and heart. The pattern of expression suggests that the CHH peptide plays a role in male reproduction. Our results provide insight into the role of CHH peptide in the oriental river prawn, and further our understanding of the