Metabolism of xanthophylls to vitamin A and new apocarotenoids in liver and skin of black bass, Micropterus Salmoides

Abstract Feeding experiments were carried out in black bass with canthaxanthin, racemic astaxanthin, (3R, 3'R)-zeaxanthin and lutein A. In the integuments the new metabolic pathways of xanthophylls to new apocarotenoids, micropteroxanthins by eccentric cleavage were postulated. In the liver xanthophylls such as racemic astaxanthin, (3 R , 3′ R )-zeaxanthin and lutein A were directly bioconverted into vitamin A 2 alcohol except for canthaxanthin via vitamin A 1 alcohol.