Distribution of astaxanthin in the spiny lobster Jasus lalandii: trends during biological cycles

ABSTRACT Astaxanthin, the dominant carotenoid pigment in the South African spiny lobster, Jasus lalandii, was quantified in haemolymph and tissue extracts by means of reverse phase-high pressure liquid chromatography and analysed with respect to growth and reproduction cycles of adults. Haemolymph, exoskeleton, muscle, gonads and hepatopancreas from both sexes, as well as egg parcels from berried females were collected within days of removing the animals from the ocean. The astaxanthin profile is, therefore, representative of spiny lobsters in the wild. Astaxanthin is significantly more in exoskeleton, ovaries and egg parcels, and is influenced by the ovarian cycle in females: it accumulated in growing oocytes and remained in the extruded eggs ostensibly for protection as antioxidant. Radioactive inulin was used to determine total haemolymph volume of a spiny lobster and the gravimetric contribution of body organs and various tissues to the total weight of these animals were measured: muscle tissue constitutes 33% of the total wet weight of J. lalandii, while haemolymph (22%) and exoskeleton (20%) are other major contributors. For maximal harvesting of astaxanthin from carcases, it would thus, be best to focus only on the exoskeleton with an emphasis on the carapace, which can be easily removed.