UV-absorbing pigments in eye tissues of fish from the Great Barrier Reef

Ocular tissues from 52 species (19 families) of tropical marine fish were examined for levels of UV-absorbing pigments in the spectral region 300-380 nm.Specimens of mackerels, tuna and marlin were caught by surface trolling in Bowling Green and Upstart Bays; all other fish were caught by hand-line or spearfishing at Grub, Hunt and Marion Reefs. The eyes were removed and frozen immediately at -20°C. Lens ocular tissues were excised from defrosted samples, crushed and extracts formed by steeping in 5ml methanol. Visible-u.v. absorption spectra from these extracts were recorded. Solid protein biomass was determined from the solid tissue residues. Mycosporine-like amino acids (Asterina-330, palythene, palythine and palythinol) were separated and quantified (nmol/mg protein) using reverse-phase isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).The efficiency of methanol extraction
This research was undertaken to:1. identify and describe the distribution of mycosporine-like amino acid compounds in the lens tissues of marine fish2. develop techniques for quantitative studies of UV absorbing compounds in fish eyes using high performance liquid chromotography3. evaluate the efficiency with which these compounds can be extracted from lens tissues

本研究针对52种（隶属于19个科）热带海水鱼类的眼部组织，检测其在300~380 nm光谱区间内的紫外吸收色素水平。鲭鱼、金枪鱼及马林鱼的样本通过表层拖钓法于鲍灵格林湾与阿普斯特湾采集；其余鱼类均通过手钓或鱼叉捕鱼的方式，在格拉布礁、亨特礁与马里恩礁海域捕获。采集后立即摘除眼球，并置于-20℃条件下速冻保存。将解冻后的样本取出，分离眼部晶状体组织，经研磨后以5mL甲醇浸泡制备提取液。对上述提取液的紫外-可见吸收光谱进行采集记录。通过残留固体组织测定样本的固体蛋白生物量。采用反相等度高效液相色谱法（High Performance Liquid Chromatography, HPLC）对类菌孢素氨基酸（Mycosporine-like amino acids，包含Asterina-330、palythene、palythine及palythinol）进行分离与定量分析，定量单位为nmol/mg蛋白。甲醇提取效率
本研究旨在达成以下目标：
1. 明确海水鱼类晶状体组织中类菌孢素氨基酸类化合物的分布特征并予以描述；
2. 建立基于高效液相色谱法的鱼类眼部紫外吸收化合物定量分析技术；
3. 评估从晶状体组织中提取此类化合物的效率。