title: Beta carotene uptake into atherosclerotic plaque: enhanced staining and preferential ablation with the pulsed dye laser.
abstract: The yellow color of atherosclerotic plaque is due to the presence of carotenoids, which absorb light between 430-530 nm and account for the preferential ablation of plaque by the pulsed dye laser operating at 480 nm. This study was designed to examine tissue uptake of beta-carotene and the effect of uptake on arterial plaque ablation. Forty-two atherosclerotic NZW rabbits were given intravenous beta-carotene at a dose of 40 mg/kg, twice weekly and killed between 1 hour and 28 days after the initial injection. beta-carotene was not detected in control specimens but was significantly greater in plaque than in normal wall at all time points following beta-carotene injection (P < 0.04 Mann Whitney U test). The ablation threshold was significantly lower in beta-carotene treated plaque than in untreated plaque or normal arterial wall (P < 0.01, Fisher's exact test). In this model beta-carotene is preferentially taken up into arterial plaque, resulting in increased absorption of laser radiation at 480 nm and enhanced tissue ablation.
authors.affiliation: Professorial Surgical Unit, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Frisoli
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry; D016342:Angioplasty, Laser / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001646:Bile / Q000737:chemistry; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D003116:Color; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids