title: Beta-carotene uptake and tissue distribution in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo).
abstract: Ferrets accumulate beta-carotene in liver and adipose tissue after chronic feeding. This study was designed to further evaluate the time course of uptake and depletion of beta-carotene in ferret serum and tissues. Male ferrets (n = 15; 1000-1200 g) were given a single dose of beta-carotene (10 mg/kg body wt) with a meal. Animals were killed at various time points over an 11-d period. Blood and tissue samples were extracted and analyzed for beta-carotene by HPLC. Peak serum beta-carotene levels (0.68 +/- 0.18 mumol/L) were observed 8 h after the test meal. beta-Carotene was essentially cleared from the blood by 76 h. Peak beta-carotene concentrations (nmol/g) were observed between 8 and 16 h after ingestion for liver (1.20 +/- 0.04), lung (0.042 +/- 0.012), kidney (0.090 +/- 0.015) and spleen (0.076 +/- 0.012). Ferret liver also seemed to contain a variety of other polar and nonpolar carotenoids. Ferrets were shown to absorb beta-carotene from a meal and have a consistent serum response pattern. Absorbed beta-carotene is differentially distributed in a variety of tissues. The ferret seems to be a useful model for the study of beta-carotene absorption and metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801.
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Gugger
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Bierer
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Henze
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Erdman
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005289:Ferrets / Q000378:metabolism*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids