Bioactive roles of
carotenoids and retinoids in crustaceans
M.A. Liñán-Cabello, J. Paniagua-Michel, P.M.
Hopkins-2002
Aquaculture
Nutrition, 8(4):
299-305
Abstract:
Among the proposed functions of carotenoids in
aquaculture have been those of pigmentation, antioxidant functions, as a
source of pro-vitamin A, cellular protection from photodynamic damage,
enhancement of growth and reproductive potential. However results reported
by various authors are often contradictory. Some evidence suggests that
these pigments may perform vital roles in growth and reproductive success in
Crustaceans. Additional efforts need to be devoted to the understanding of
the active forms of the carotenoid derived metabolites, retinoids in
crustaceans. Dietary carotenoids are the sole biological precursors of
retinoids in crustaceans. The importance of carotenoids as bioactive
molecules reside to a large degree on their conversion to retinoids that are
involved in the activation of hormonal nuclear receptors. Retinoids play a
prominent role in many developmental processes, including embryonic
development and differentiation of various cell types. The presence of
receptors of retinoic acid in crustaceans and our findings of retinoids in
the neuroendocrine complex and in reproductive tissue, as well as the
enhancement of the ovarian development in shrimp suggests an important role
of these metabolites in shrimp physiology for their successful aquaculture.
(Department of Marine Biotechnology, Centro de
Investigación Cientíifica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Ensenada
BC, México)