title: The mobilization and tissue distribution of beta-carotene in the rat by the venous injection method.
abstract: Now it is known that beta-carotene (beta-carotene) has other important biological functions in addition to the role of vitamin A precursor. The various epidemiological studies suggested that high beta-carotene intake might reduce the incidence of the cancer risk. Although several studies are under way to find biological evidence for the epidemiological results, the mechanism of action of beta-carotene is still unknown. As the first step to elucidate the biological functions of beta-carotene, we investigated the mobilization and the distribution of all-trans-beta-carotene in the rat. Because it was reported that the rat did not absorb the intact form of beta-carotene, we injected a beta-carotene suspension intravenously (dose; 2.0 mg/rat). After injection, a high amount of beta-carotene (about 1.5 mg-2.0 mg) accumulated in the lung very rapidly (within 5 min). By this method, the time-dependent mobilization and distribution of beta-carotene in the rat was as follows: all-trans-beta-carotene was accumulated in the lung then moved to the liver, was distributed in adipose tissues (after 1 week), pancreas (after 2 weeks), and muscle tissue or testis (after 3 weeks).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Science for Human Life, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamanushi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Igarashi
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004655:Emulsions; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids