Behavior of Carotenoids in the Chum Salmon Oncorhynchus keta During Development

Abstract

As part of the historical study of carotenoids in the chum salmon, the behavior of carotenoids was investigated duing development.
The carotenoids which were stored in the eggs during the anadromous migration period, stayed in a constant quantitative (0.677-0.687mg/100g) and compostion ratio, with a 76-80% astaxabthin rate, until hatching. After hatching, the amount of carotenoids decreased and astaxanthin rate also decreased. In the post-larva stage when the yolk was absorbed, it was reduced to 24%. In the stage of the fry transferred to a river, it was reduced to 6%.
Most (80%) of the carotenoids of the pro-larva just after hatching were in the yolk. As the yolk was absorbed, they were gradually transorted to the embryo and stored in the skin of the larva after esterification. When the fry were transferred to a tiver, the carotenoids were not found in its muscle.
In the post-larva stage, antheraxanthin, ltein and salmooxanthin-like pigment appeared newly. The composition ration of those carotenoid increased with the growth of the fry.