BACKGROUND
The plumpness of hepatopancreas and gonad tissues in live Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) depends on the grading scale and its commercial value. In this work, a low‐field T1‐weighted 1H magnetic resonance imaging (LF‐1H MRI) technique was developed to nondestructively analyze the plumpness of hepatopancreas and gonad tissues in live E. sinensis. Both male and female E. sinensis were characterized by two‐dimensional (2D) LF‐1H MRI. Moreover, a three‐dimensional (3D) LF‐1H MRI model that quantitatively integrated the total volume of lipid tissues in live E. sinensis was used.
RESULTS
The results showed 2D LF‐1H MRI could accurately discriminate the plumpness of hepatopancreas and gonad tissues in live E. sinensis. The results of the 3D LF‐1H MRI model displayed that the lipid volume of E. sinensis could be used to quantify lipid accumulation in lipid tissues.
CONCLUSION
LF‐1H MRI technology was successfully developed to accurately discriminate the development of E. sinensis hepatopancreas and gonad tissues in a nondestructive manner, indicating its application potential in grading commercial live crabs or advising crab farmers on breeding and fattening processes. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry