Tauropine and D-Lactate as Metabolic Stress Indicators during Transport and Storage of Live Paua, (New Zealand Abalone) (Haliotis iris)

ABSTRACT Pyruvate reductase end products were evaluated as specific indicators of anaerobic stress in the New Zealand paua (Haliotis iris). The foot and shell adductor muscles contained D‐lactate and tauropine dehydrogenases: the latter was isolated for the enzymatic determination of tauropine in muscle extracts. Enforced exercise and prolonged exposure to air led to accumulation of tauropine, and to a lesser extent D‐lactate, in the foot and adductor. Exercise decreased the glycogen content of both muscles and adenylate energy change in the adductor. Monitoring tauropine and D‐lactate should prove useful for quality control of live abalone during culture, transport and storage.