Effect of dietary carotenoids on lipoperoxidation in mature sea urchins Loxechinus albus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea).

PEREZ AF; LATTUCA ME; MALANGA G.

Indian Journal of Geo-marine Sciences

National Institute of Science Communication And Information Resources

Lugar: New Delhi; Año: 2015 vol. 44 p. 354 - 363

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary carotenoids on index, colour of gonads, carotenoid pigments and lipid peroxidation in the gut and gonads of the sea urchin Loxechinus albus. Individuals were fed with the following diets: (A) fresh algae, (B) and (C) enriched with 0.02% and 0.045% all-trans β-carotene, respectively, for 8 weeks. After treatment, no significant differences were found in total weight, test diameter, gonad and gut indexes. Histological analysis showed differences in the gonad reproductive condition among treatments, immature sea urchins were only found in Diet A and B. The lipid radical content was lower in gonads than in gut for Diet C. The content of α-tocopherol in gonads was higher in sea urchins fed on Diet C and field control than in sea urchins fed on Diet A and B. We may conclude that animals fed on Diet C showed a higher content of antioxidants and a lower lipid peroxidation in gonads than in gut.