Raman spectroscopy and imaging of beta-carotene in live corpus luteum cells.
Raman spectroscopy has been used to identify and locate beta-carotene within individual living luteal cells. The cells were either freshly prepared or cultured; the latter was incubated in the presence or absence of beta-carotene in the form of enriched bovine high-density lipoprotein. Luteal cells were investigated using several Raman spectroscopic and imaging techniques. These techniques did not give accurate concentration levels of beta-carotene within parts of the cell but illustrated the distribution of the molecule. Freshly prepared luteal cells were found to contain an appreciable concentration of beta-carotene. Over a period of several days, the concentration gradually reduced to a nearly undetectable level; similar results were found for cells cultured in the absence of the beta-carotene. For cells cultured in the presence of beta-carotene, the molecular concentration was maintained for as long as 2 weeks. The Raman spectra of fragmented cells showed that the beta-carotene is predominantly localised in the lipid-rich cell components, with the concentration highest in the microsomal fraction. The Raman imaging techniques revealed that beta-carotene was spread over the entire volume of the luteal cells with higher levels occurring at distinct sites, including the surface.
Arikan
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Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, UK. sevket95@hotmail.com
Sands
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Rodway
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Batchelder
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D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D008861:Microsomes / Q000737:chemistry; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology
D019207:beta Carotene