The effect of seasonality on oxidative metabolism in the sea urchin Loxechinus albus

The objective of the present study was to investigate seasonal variations in the oxidative metabolism of the sea urchin Loxechinus albus gonads. The reported spawning period for this species is from September to November. Lipid radical content showed non-significant changes upon the seasons. Ascorbyl radical content and the content of alpha-tocopherol were lower in samples collected in spring and summer as compared to the values in winter-collected animals. Ascorbate content decreased in samples collected in fall as compared to those collected in winter. For the lipophilic compartment, the lipid radical content/alpha-tocopherol content ratio is an indicator of oxidative stress. This index increased significantly in tissues during spawning as compared to the values in samples collected during winter. The ascorbyl content/ascorbate content ratio is an indicator of oxidative stress for the hydrophilic milieu. A significant decrease by 66% was determined in tissues from gonads of animals collected in summer as compared to values in animals collected in winter. The data reported here suggest a different profile of response against oxidative stress at the lipophilic and hydrophilic milieus in L. albus gonads.