Changes of egg retinoids during the development of Xenopus laevis.

The changes of egg retinoids during the development of Xenopus laevis were investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). All-trans retinal and 3-dehydroretinal are endogenous in the egg and are distributed to both the eyes and the ventral portion of the larval body. These retinals are converted to all-trans retinyl palmitate and 3-dehydroretinyl palmitate during the development up to stage 46. 11-cis retinal and 3-dehydroretinal can be detected after stage 40 in the eyes but not in the larval ventral portion. It is suggested that retinoids are transported from the larval ventral portion to the eyes after stage 41/42.