[Change of carotenoid composition in crabs during embryogenesis]

Changes of the qualitative and quantitative compositions of carotenoids are studied at various development stages of the external egg, determined based on color differences, for the species C. opilio, P. camtschaticus, and P. platypus. It has been established that the main carotenoids of the new egg are astaxanthin and beta-carotene. Intermediate products of transformation of beta-carotene into astaxanthin are identified: echinenon, cantaxanthin, and phoenicoxanthin. The carotenoid content per embryo for the new egg of C. opilio (the orange egg) amounted to 22.7 ng, of P. camtschaticus and P. platypus (the violet egg)--to 49.2 and 23.3 ng, respectively. In the egg at the later development stage (the brown egg) the carotenoid content was decreased to 13.1 ng in C. opilio and to 20.1 ng in P. camtschaticus. Development of embryos is accompanied by accumulation of esterified carotenoids and a decrease of beta-carotene and astaxanthin concentrations in all studied species.