ASTAXANTHIN SERIES – PART 4/9: THE RED KNIGHT FROM YOUNG TO OLD

1. Sexual maturation

   As adult salmon approach the stage of sexual maturation (meaning their bodies are ready to reproduce), Astaxanthin starts the first part of its voyage: from muscle to skin and reproductive glands (ovary & testis). The aim: to promote salmon’s sexual maturation INSIDE AND OUT. (Can’t judge a book by its cover, right!)

   1. Outside – A Vibrant ‘outfit’ for Mating selection

      During the mating season, sexually mature male salmons redistribute their carotenoids (a.k.a. their colour) to the skin to shine bright (cue: Rihanna “Shine bright like a Diamond) and colourful to boost mate choice. This is COOL FACT #1: Aquatic animals liken color vibrancy to mate quality – their belief that the stronger the vibrant color, the better the mate. [1]. (Without clothes to choose from, you have to work with you’ve got to get a date and a mate!)

   2. Inside – Boosting Reproductive capability

      Deposited in the ovary & testis, Astaxanthin continues in its travels to promote these organs’ development – thereby increasing overall reproductive performance  multiple ways [1] [2]:

      • Promote the production of sperms & eggs
      • Improve the nutrient content in eggs (such as lipids, proteins, and even Astaxanthin itself)
      • Improve sperm activities (for example, the spermatocrit value (a.k.a. sperm concentration), mobility, viability)

With better quantity and quality of eggs and sperms, salmon parents stand a better chance to create more baby salmons. 

2. Spawning & fertilization

   COOL FACT #2: Fertilization for Salmons (and many other fish species) happens outside their body. Female salmons spawn eggs over their nest for males to then discharge their sperms over the eggs – happening all in open water! Thus before the embryo is formed, there are two major obstacles:

   1. Sperms need to find their way to the egg destination in a vulnerable, open space. (Talk about the pressure on the man!)
   2. Sperms and eggs (and later the embryo) need to survive the environmental factors that could risk successful fertilization, such as ultraviolet light and physiological stress (increasing ammonia levels and water temperatures).

   And just like every other challenge we’ve presented, Astaxanthin can help!

   1. Astaxanthin acts as a fertilization hormone in salmon eggs; in other words, eggs send out the fertilization signal to attract the sperm and increase the chances of finding each other [2]!
   2. With its potent antioxidant activity (as illustrated in previous VNF Astaxanthin chapters on Linkedin), Astaxanthin protects the eggs and sperms from possible environmental damages, thereby enhances the fertilization and slowing down quality deterioration [1].

3. Embryo development

   Eggs and Sperms meet, and voilà: the SALMON EMBRYO. But there’s no ‘taking it easy’ just yet. The embryo’s life is challenging from the start: growing up in an open space (instead of a mommy tummy’s protection and warmth like many other animals). Luckily, the embryo inherits the nutrients, particularly the Astaxanthin, from the maternal eggs [3] – another leg in Astaxanthin’s journey. Thus the embryo boosts its chance of survival with Astaxanthin lovingly passed on from the mother.

   Then, the salmon larvae hatch and once again, the Astaxanthin superpowers inherited from maternal eggs carry on – Astaxanthin still on the move!
   And again and again, the cycle of life repeats to continue replenishing aquaculture, with Astaxanthin skillfully making its way to the parts that could do with a ‘bit of help’. 

   Now onto Part II of this Astaxanthin chapter to explore Immunity enhancement.