Abstract:Shrimps（Litopenaeus vannamei）weighting（12.86±0.80）g were randomly divided into two groups and immersed in 3.5%sorbitol solution or clear water（control）at 13 ℃ for 3 min making them in dormancy.A group of 30 shrimps were placed in a polyvinyl chloride（PVC）bag（220 mm×320 mm），sealing with 100%oxygen.All of the shrimps subsequently put in a constant temperature box（15℃）for 5 h and 10 h dormancy，and recovered in the clear water（20℃-25℃）for 1 h after 10 hours dormancy.The contents of hemocyanin，lactate and glucose，and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase（LDH）in serum，as well as the glycogen content and the activity of succinate dehydrogenase（SDH）in hepatopancreas were investigated to interpret the effect and mechanism of sorbitol on the survival of shrimp during air-exposure transportation.The results showed that the survival rate of the sorbitol group was 88.89%，significantly higher than that of control（71.1%）.Under the hibernation，the levels of Hc，lactate，glucose，and the activities of SDH and LDH in sorbitol group were significantly higher than those of control，except for the concentration of hepatic glycogen that was significantly lower than that of control.After 1 h of recovery，lactate and glucose levels and the SDH activity in all groups showed significantly different from that of fresh shrimps，however，the other parameters recovered to normal levels.It was concluded that 3.5%sorbitol could increase the aerobic and anaerobic respiration and survival rate of shrimp，and relive the deficits of anoxia，hypoxia and energy.