Abstract
IT is well known that the majority of aquatic animals mobilize carotenoids into the ova during the spawning season; but probable reasons for this have only recently become apparent. The important work of Steven1 has shown that lutein and astaxanthin are transferred quantitatively from the yolk of brown trout (Salmo trutta) eggs to the developing embryo, where they are incorporated into the chromatophores thus ensuring that the young larvæ are very soon fully equipped from this point of view. None of the astaxanthin or lutein is used up during embryonic development, which suggests that these pigments play little, if any, ‘metabolic’ part in this process. The traces of β-carotene present do disappear during development, probably owing to conversion into vitamin A. Morton and Rosen2 have shown that no carotenoid is used up during the embryonic development of salmon.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
J. Exp. Biol., 25, 369 (1948); 26, 295 (1949).
Unpublished work.
Biochem. J., 45, 472 (1949).
Kuhn, R., and Lederer, E., Ber. dtsch. chem. Ges., 66, 488 (1933).
Z. Naturforsch., 2, 330 (1947).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
GOODWIN, T. Carotenoid Metabolism during Development of Lobster Eggs. Nature 167, 559 (1951). https://doi.org/10.1038/167559a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/167559a0
This article is cited by
-
A multidisciplinary approach to study the reproductive biology of wild prawns
Scientific Reports (2017)
-
�ber Ausbildung und Vererbung der K�rperfarbe bei Gammarus pulex SSP. subterraneus (Schneider), einer normalerweise pigmentlosen H�hlenform des gemeinen Bachflohkrebses
Zeitschrift f�r Induktive Abstammungs- und Vererbungslehre (1956)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.