title: Tissue distribution of lycopene in ferrets and rats after lycopene supplementation.
abstract: To determine lycopene uptake and tissue distribution in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) and F344 rats, we supplemented orally 4.6 mg/(kg body wt.d) lycopene in a tomato oleoresin-corn oil mixture (experimental groups). After 9 wk of supplementation, the animals were killed and blood and organs were collected. Plasma and tissue carotenoids were extracted and measured using HPLC. Mean concentrations of lycopene (nmol/kg wet tissue) in saponified tissues of ferrets were as follows: liver 933, intestine 73, prostate 12.7 and stomach 9.3. Levels of lycopene (nmol/kg wet tissue) in saponified tissue of rats were as follows: liver 14213, intestine 3125, stomach 78.6, prostate 24 and testis 3.9. When these organs were extracted without saponification, the lycopene levels were lower, except for rat testis. All-trans-lycopene was the predominant isomer found in tomato oleoresin and in the majority of rat tissues, whereas cis-lycopenes were predominant in rat prostate and plasma. This pattern was reversed in ferrets. The results show the following: 1) lycopene from tomato oleoresin is absorbed and stored primarily in the liver of both animals; 2) saponification generally improves the extraction of lycopene from most tissues of both animals; 3) cis-lycopene and all-trans-lycopene are the predominant isomers in ferret and rat tissues, respectively; and 4) rats absorb lycopene more effectively than ferrets.
authors.affiliation: Jean Mayer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, 02111, USA.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Yeum
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: N I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Krinsky
authors.forename: X D
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005289:Ferrets / Q000378:metabolism*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344 / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene