الفهرس 
Gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indicesOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Callinectes sapidus is one of the most important and valuable crabs worldwide as well as in the Egyptian fisheries. This study is carried out to provide a baseline data about morphometric and weight relationships, condition factor and biochemical composition of this blue crab inhabiting Manzala Lake, Mediterranean Sea, Egypt. The current study was also carried out to assess the bioactivities of hepatopancreas and hemolymph extracts of this crab. The samples were seasonally collected between March 2019 and February 2020. The results revealed that male crabs tended to be significantly more abundant and heavier than females. Specimens with carapace width ranged from 70 to 109.9 mm dominated the population (69%) whilst the class group of 30 – 49.9 mm represented only 1.12%. The overall sex ratio of C. sapidus was in favor of males (1.41:1). Gonadosomatic index (GSI) and hepatosomatic index (HSI) revealed moderate to weak correlation between them for male and female crabs, respectively. Generally, the biometric study of the current work showed apparent general tendency toward negative allometric growth. However, males exhibited an isometric growth only in CL-BW relationship. Females tended to possess significantly higher condition factor than males (p < 0.01). During autumn, condition factor indicated well-being of both sexes of C. sapidus. A comparison of the present study with other studies elucidated that growth pattern of the crabs obviously differed between localities as well as between genera. The present study revealed for the first time to the best of our knowledge the cytoprotective and inhibitory properties of the hepatopancreas and hemolymph of this crab. The results indicated that both extracts inhibit growth and proliferation of HeLa cells through induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. Accordingly, both extracts could be effectively used as potential sources for anticancer drugs discovery because of their selective antiproliferative effects.