The insulin-like growth factor signalling system comprises insulin-like growth factors, insulin-like growth factor receptors and insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins. Along with the growth hormones, insulin-like growth factor signalling is very pivotal in the growth and development of all vertebrates. In fishes, insulin-like growth factors play an important role in osmoregulation, besides the neuroendocrine regulation of growth. Insulin-like growth factor concentration in plasma can assess the growth in fishes and shellfishes and therefore widely applied in nutritional research as an indicator to evaluate the performance of selected nutrients. The present review summarizes the role of insulin-like growth factor signalling in fishes and shellfishes, its significance in aquaculture and in evaluating growth, reproduction and development, and discusses the utility of this system as biomarkers for early indication of growth in aquaculture.

胰岛素样生长因子信号系统包括胰岛素样生长因子、胰岛素样生长因子受体和胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白。与生长激素一样，胰岛素样生长因子信号在所有脊椎动物的生长和发育中都非常关键。在鱼类中，除了神经内分泌调节生长外，胰岛素样生长因子在渗透调节中也起着重要作用。血浆中胰岛素样生长因子浓度可以评估鱼类和贝类的生长情况，因此广泛应用于营养研究，作为评估所选营养素性能的指标。本综述总结了胰岛素样生长因子信号在鱼类和贝类中的作用、其在水产养殖和评估生长、繁殖和发育中的意义，