[Quantitative determination of vitamin A levels in frozen preserved human amniotic membrane].
OBJECTIVE
Retinoids are associated with cell proliferation and differentiation. The levels of retinoids (vitamin A and its derivatives) in human amniotic membrane (AM) were measured to investigate whether endogenous retinoids in AM might contribute to the process of wound healing of the keratoconjunctival epithelium in AM transplantation.


METHODS
Retinoids were extracted from AM obtained from three patients following cesarean section. Retinoids including retinol (ROL), retinylaldehyde (RAL), retinoic acid(RA), and retinyl palmitate(RP) were analyzed using a reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatograph equipped with a multi-wavelength detector or fluorescence detector.


RESULTS
ROL was identified and detected in AM at a concentration of 9.42 2.75(mean +/- standard deviation) ng/g wet tissue. No other retinoids, were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Among the retinoids tested, only retinol was detected at low levels in human AM tissues. Based on these results, endogenous retinoids in AM probably have little effect on wound healing of the keratoconjunctival epithelium in AM transplantation.
Nozaki
Mayumi
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan.
Kawahara
Junichi
J
Muramatsu
Ryuji
R
Usui
Masahiko
M
D000650:Amnion / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000637:transplantation; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015925:Cryopreservation; D006801:Humans; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000032:analysis*
D014801:Vitamin A