Metabolism of [ 14C]β-sitosterol injected at various stages of the molting cycle in prawn Penaeus japonicus bate

Abstract

1. 1. Certain aspects of β-sitosterol metabolism at various stages of the molting cycle in the prawn Penaeus japonicus Bate were studied. 2. 2. The radioactivity (dis/min) per mg of tissue or organ of prawn injected with [ 14C]β-sitosterol was very high in the gonads and hepatopancreas, high in hypodermis at stages A–B, C 1–C 2, C 3–C 4, D 1–D 2; and high in the gonad, hypodermis and hepatopancreas at stage D 4. 3. 3. The rate of bioconversion of β-sitosterol to cholesterol in the hepatopancreas of prawn at stage A–B, three days after injection, was 30–40%. 4. 4. Thin-layer chromatographic analyses of lipids indicated the presence of free sterol, steryl ester and polar steroid in all the tissues and organs. Free sterol was predominant, accounting for 75.7–97.4% of the radioactive compounds present.