Abstract: The results of the previous studies seem to show the crustaceans can secrete growth hormone,which regulate their growth.However,more evidences are needed to determine it.So the following research was conducted.The extract of thoracic ganglia (TGE) of adult Macrobrachium rosenbergii was applied to a Sephadex G-50 column,the resulting second peak was further isolated by HPLC,and 9 fractions were obtained.Among the fractions only the second fraction significantly increased the protein synthesis of the abdomen muscle of the juvenile M.rosenbergii that was injected TGE.The increasing effects were related to the protein concentration of the injecting fractions.The molecular weight of the substance in the second fraction isolated by HPLC was below 3.4 kDa.The results indicate that the thoracic ganglia of M.rosenbergii could secrete a peptide hormone,which stimulates the muscle protein synthesis of prawn,and the hormone might be the growth hormone of the prawn.