Abstract
Abstract The carotenoid concentration of the whole developing egg of the lobster Homarus gammarus remains unchanged during the embryogenesis. The decrease of pigment amounts in the vitellin mass corresponds to the transfer of carotenoids to the forming embryo. Esterified astaxanthin (mono and diester forms) appear during the early metanauplius stage EI 90. Unesterified astaxanthin is the main pigment occurring in the vitellus. Esterified forms were found to increase whereas free astaxanthin decreases up to hatch. The esterification of astaxanthin permits the storage of pigment in the tissues as an adaptative feature related to the formation of the embryo.
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