Some Aspects of Ascorbate Metabolism in Developing Embryos of the Brine Shrimp (Artemia salina)

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Abstract
Cysts of the brine shrimp (Artemia salina) during various hydration states were analyzed for ascorbate concentration. At a state of cellular dehydration and metabolic arrest, ascorbate is stored in the form of stable ascorbic sulfate. Cysts from six populations in North America, France, Australia, and China differed considerably in ascorbic sulfate concentration (162.4–428.5 μg∙g dry matter−1, expressed as ascorbic acid). Embryos incubated in NaCl solution started to hydrolyze the stable form and released free ascorbic acid. Major transfer of the stable sulfated form to active ascorbic acid (on an equimolar basis) also took place at hatching. Activity of ascorbic sulfate sulfohydrolase was analyzed by two methods and peak activity after hatching corresponds to an increase of free ascorbic acid. However, decapsulation of cysts does not lead to ascorbic sulfate hydrolysis, and therefore raises the question of vitamin C availability for larval fish fed decapsulated Artemia.
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