Meeting Abstract
81.7 Monday, Jan. 6 11:45 Dietary beta-carotene supplementation in broodstock affects F1 embryonic development and embryonic stress response to UVR in the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus TAYLOR, J.C.*; WILLIAMS, M.B.; KATIYAR, S.K.; WATTS, S.A.; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham jchrisrun@gmail.com
Carotenoids are selectively accumulated in sea urchin gonad but their function is unknown. These carotenoids have been suggested to function as in vivo antioxidants and facilitators of reproductive tissue maintenance. Adult Lytechinus variegatus broodstock with gonads in the growing phase were fed diets either with or without supplemental beta-carotene for 5 months and subsequently induced to spawn. Fertilized eggs were collected from each feed treatment and exposed to differing intensities of UVA (0-4 J/m2) or UVB (0-100 mJ/cm2) radiation. Larval mortality counts and developmental status were recorded at 34 and 55 hours post-fertilization and compared between feed treatments. Increasing intensities of UVA and UVB radiation were positively correlated with larval mortality in both dietary treatments. UVB induced higher mortality than UVA. Larval mortality in the beta-carotene supplemented treatment was significantly higher than the beta-carotene free treatment. F1 larvae within the beta-carotene supplemented treatment developed at a slower rate and suffered significantly higher developmental abnormalities when exposed to UVB. These data suggest that dietary supplements of carotenoid do not provide photoprotection and may, through unknown mechanisms, enhance the deleterious effects of UV exposure. We suggest that excessive levels of beta-carotene in the diet may negatively affect outcomes of both FO and F1 progeny.
