Carotenoids from integument, muscle and midgut gland of the argentine red shrimp Pleoticus muelleri

DÍAZ, ANA CRISTINA; VELURTAS, SUSANA MARIA; FERNÁNDEZ GIMENEZ, ANALIA VERÓNICA; MENDIARA, SARA NOEMÍ; FENUCCI, JORGE LINO

Coquimbo Chile

Otro; The crustacean Society mid-year meeting; 2007

The Crustacean Society

Carotenoids have been considered to stimulate animal immune systems, increase stress tolerance, and enhance embryonic development, astaxanthin is the predominant carotenoid in decapod crustacean and has been studied extensively in the penaeoid. Since these animals cannot synthesize astaxanthin, it must be included in their feeds in order to obtain their appealing color and also serve as antioxidants and a source of vitamin A. Oxidative pathways suggested for metabolism of dietary carotenoids include that of â-carotene and astaxanthin. The objective of this research was to compare the growth, survival, and determine by spectrophotometry method, total carotenoids and a carotenoid profile from the integument, muscle and midgut gland in juvenile Pleoticus muelleri fed isoproteic formulated feed containing different levels of carotenoids. The four diets (35% crude protein) contained astaxanthin at concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/100 g diet, â-carotene at concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/ 100g diet. The control group was fed with a non-pigmented diet. Trials were carried out in three replicate groups during 7 weeks on juveniles (5.15±0.941g initial weight). There was no experimental evidence supporting a possible influence of theses pigments on growth and survival under the conditions used in this study. Dietary carotenoids are stored in the integument and muscle, in midgut gland are not detected. The integument showed the highest carotenoids concentrations, free astaxanthin level was 9.47±1.064 ìg mg-1 tissue, meanwhile â-carotene was 15.43±1.126 ìg mg-1 tissue- In muscle the most important was â-carotene (1.74±0.161 ìg mg-1 tissue). Significant statistical differences between wild animals and those fed with different diets were found (P<0.05). No significant differences were found among dietary treatments even with no pigments supplementation. Due to the high cost of artificial pigments, dietary supplementation it is no necessary if the Argentine red shrimp are fed with diets containing animals meals like fish, squid, shrimp.