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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Analysis of Oxidative Stress in Zebrafish Embryos
Published on: July 7, 2014
Oxidative stress does not influence carotenoid mobilization and plumage pigmentation
Caroline Isaksson1, Staffan Andersson
1Department of Zoology, Göteborg University, Medicinaregatan 18, 413 90 Göteborg, Sweden. caroline.isaksson@zool.gu.se
Abstract:
Oxidative stress has been suggested to create a link between 'good genes' and carotenoid coloration via an allocation conflict between external pigmentation and internal antioxidant functions. However, although carotenoid displays have been extensively investigated, there are no experimental tests of the antioxidant efficiency of carotenoids in vivo. We induced oxidative stress in a small passerine (the great tit, Parus major) under both carotenoid deprivation and supplementation, and investigated the effect on carotenoid mobilization (i.e. plasma) and allocation (i.e. deposition in feather incorporation and liver storage). We found no effects of the stressor on either mobilization or allocation of carotenoids. These results reject the previously suggested superior role of carotenoid's function as antioxidant in vivo with important implications for signal content and honesty.
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