Effects of Dietary Vitamins A, E, and C on the Ovarian Development of Penaeus japonicus

Abstract

A feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of non-supplementation of individual vitamins A, E, and C on the ovarian development of P. japonicus (mean weight=20. 21 ±0. 87 g). Vitamin A palmitate, DL-α-tocopherol, and L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate magnesium (APM) were used as the vitamin A, E, and C sources, respectively. A control diet was supplemented with these three vitamins. Bilateral eyestalk ablation was performed within 30–37 days after feeding with the experimental diets, and weight gain and gonadosomatic index (GSI) were examined 20 days after each prawn’s ablation. The weight gain of prawns fed with the control diet was significantly higher (P<0. 05) than of those fed with diets not supplemented with vitamins A or E; however, this was no different (P>0. 05) from that of prawns fed with the APM-unsupplemented diet. The highest GSI (P<0. 05) was observed in prawns fed with the control diet. The control and initial prawn tissues contained higher vitamins A, E, and C than those of prawns fed with diets unsupplemented with vitamins A, E, or APM respectively. The present study showed the essentiality of supplemental vitamins A, E, and C in the diets of broodstock prawns for enhanced ovarian development. © 1993, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.