{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]],"date-time":"2026-09-14T16:30:25Z","timestamp":1789403425983,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,20]],"date-time":"2025-06-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1750377600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Nutr."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title><jats:p>In this study, a highly selective and sensitive LC-MS\/MS method was developed to comprehensively analyze the distribution of astaxanthin across various tissues of <jats:italic>Litopenaeus vannamei<\/jats:italic>, as well as its variations in the hepatopancreas and ovary throughout ovarian development.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>The separation was performed on a BEH C8 column (1.7\u202f\u03bcm, 2.1\u202f\u00d7\u202f50\u202fmm) using a a gradient elution. The initial mobile phase composition was 0.1% formic acid in 3\u202fmM ammonium acetate in water (solvent A) and methanol (solvent B) at a ratio of 15:85 (v\/v), with a flow rate of 0.20\u202fmL\/min.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>The assay demonstrated linearity over a concentration range of 20 to 10,000 ng\/mL, with accuracy varying from \u22120.1 to 1.7% and precision within 2.1%. Using the established methodology, astaxanthin concentrations were quantitatively analyzed and comparatively assessed across various tissues of <jats:italic>L. vannamei<\/jats:italic>. Analytical results demonstrated that the ventral nerve cord and hepatopancreas exhibited the highest astaxanthin concentrations among all examined tissues, with values of 351\u202f\u03bcg\/g and 116\u202f\u03bcg\/g, respectively. During the ovarian developmental stages, astaxanthin was predominantly sequestered in the hepatopancreas during early phases, with concentrations ranging from 21.3 \u03bcg\/g to 29.1 \u03bcg\/g, representing a 43- to 59-fold increase compared to ovarian concentrations. However, a significant redistribution of astaxanthin was observed during the post-developmental stage, characterized by a substantial decrease to 5.74\u202f\u03bcg\/g in the hepatopancreas, concomitant with an increase to 7.47\u202f\u03bcg\/g in ovarian tissue.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>This validated LC-MS\/MS method effectively quantified astaxanthin in various tissues of <jats:italic>Litopenaeus vannamei<\/jats:italic>, providing new insights into its tissue-specific distribution and potential role during ovarian development.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2025.1586625","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,20]],"date-time":"2025-06-20T04:10:41Z","timestamp":1750392641000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Development of an LC-MS\/MS method for astaxanthin quantification in shrimp tissues and its application to detect astaxanthin variations during ovary development 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