Influence des acides amines purifies ajoutes dans les aliments composes, sur le metabolisme des pigments carotenoides chez Palaemon serratus (Crustacea, Decapoda)

The influence of purified and proteic amino acids in the diet on the carotenoid content of crustaceans was investigated with the shrimp, Palaemon serratus . Methionine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and arginine, combined in pairs and in varying proportions, were added to a standard artificial diet containing 45.7% protein. The addition of 8% methionine resulted in a stronger concentration of carotenoid pigments, while the methionine-isoleucine pair produced the most striking results. A too high addition of free amino acids in the food supply led to a lower concentration of carotenes in the specimens studied; the smaller doses of purified amino acids applied in the experiment produced the best results.