Microsphere packages of carotenoids: intact sea urchin eggs tracked by Raman spectroscopy tools.

Although natural exposure to ambient UV radiation in oligotrophic seawater at small depths can reach the levels responsible for cellular damage, the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus is frequently in such sites, particularly on the southern Adriatic Sea shore. Spawning their eggs and spending their early life stage in rocky shores at depths of 0.5-2 m are the results of their successful adaptation strategies, although adults may dwell at greater depths. Surprisingly, there is a paucity of reports regarding the carotenoid content in sea urchin eggs. Beyond their important role in photoprotection against high UV exposure, cell division and early development, the content and distribution of carotenoids contribute to the successful survival of sea urchins and also determine the color of their gonads (roe), which is of commercial importance as a delicacy. Herein, for the first time, we have described the carotenoid content and distribution in intact, freshly released eggs of P. lividus species, non-destructively employing resonance Raman spectroscopy and imaging; near-infrared Raman spectroscopy revealed additional molecular carotenoid content. Echinenone and ß-carotene resonance Raman signals were the most intense, and they were identified as the principal carotenoids that are preferentially accumulated in eggs rather than in gonads. Raman imaging in confocal mode revealed the uniform distribution of the carotenoid signal over the whole eggs, while the distribution of proteins appeared spotted. Egg carotenoids generally maintained their identity after 2 months of dry storage, with slight signs of C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bond oxidation. The potential utilization of P. lividus sea urchin eggs as valuable microsphere packages of native carotenoids is discussed.

Methyl mercury inhibits short-circuit current and Cl- influx across isolated epipodite of European lobster (Homarus gammarus).

The effect of methyl mercuric chloride (MeHg) on short-circuit current (I(SC)) was studied in the isolated perfused epipodite preparation from the branchial chamber of European lobster (Homarus gammarus) acclimated to dilute seawater. When applied at the apical surface, 0.2, 1.0 and 3.0 microM MeHg depressed I(SC) by a 26%, 81% and 98%, respectively. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of apically applied MeHg was 0.6 microM. Basolaterally added MeHg (3.0 microM) had no effect on I(SC), whereas addition of the specific Na(+),K(+)-ATPase inhibitor ouabain (1.5 mM) reduced I(SC) by approximately 90%. Ouabain effects were reversible, and I(SC) fully recovered upon removal of ouabain. The MeHg-induced block of I(SC) was partially reversed by the reducing agent, 1,4-dithiothreitol, suggesting that the formation of S-Hg-S bridges is important in the inhibitory mechanism. A significant reduction of I(SC) and conductance occurred when low Na(+) and Cl(-) salines were substituted. Furthermore, in the low Na(+) saline, J(Cl)(A-->B) fluxes were reduced by about 50%. In the highly conductive epipodite epithelium, coupling of Na(+) and Cl(-) fluxes was suggested. The effects of MeHg on I(SC) in the lobster epipodite are attributed to inhibition of an apical Cl(-) influx.