PURPOSE: To investigate if retinol and carotenoids are present in the subretinal space following rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. METHODS: Blood and subretinal fluid were collected from patients at the time of surgical repair of retinal detachment. After removal of cellular contents in a specimen by centrifugation, the supernatant fraction was analyzed by liquid chromatography using a silica column eluted by 16% dioxane in hexane. Retinol and carotenoids were identified in the chromatograms based on their retention time and absorption spectrum. RESULTS: The retinol concentrations (mean+/-SD) in the serum and subretinal fluid were 305+/-144 and 166+/-96 ng/ml respectively. The 450 nm chromatogram had 7 peaks with the characteristic absorption spectrum of carotenoids. Peak 1 and 7 coincided with the retention time of beta-carotene (1.8 min) and lutein (10.8 min) respectively. The concentrations of beta-carotene and lutein in serum were 161+/-63 and 142+/-98 ng/ml respectively. There was very little beta-carotene in subretinal fluid (4.7+/-2.4 ng/ml). Lutein was the major carotenoid peak in subretinal fluid (41.4+/-14.1 ng/ml). The minor carotenoid peaks of serum were not observed in subretinal fluid. CONCLUSION: There is a substantial amount of retinol and lutein in subretinal fluid. The high proportion of lutein and very low amount of beta-carotene in the subretinal fluid support the occurrence of a highly selection transport mechanism of lutein from the blood to the retina.
PURPOSE: To investigate if retinol and carotenoids are present in the subretinal space following rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. METHODS: Blood and subretinal fluid were collected from patients at the time of surgical repair of retinal detachment. After removal of cellular contents in a specimen by centrifugation, the supernatant fraction was analyzed by liquid chromatography using a silica column eluted by 16% dioxane in hexane. Retinol and carotenoids were identified in the chromatograms based on their retention time and absorption spectrum. RESULTS: The retinol concentrations (mean+/-SD) in the serum and subretinal fluid were 305+/-144 and 166+/-96 ng/ml respectively. The 450 nm chromatogram had 7 peaks with the characteristic absorption spectrum of carotenoids. Peak 1 and 7 coincided with the retention time of beta-carotene (1.8 min) and lutein (10.8 min) respectively. The concentrations of beta-carotene and lutein in serum were 161+/-63 and 142+/-98 ng/ml respectively. There was very little beta-carotene in subretinal fluid (4.7+/-2.4 ng/ml). Lutein was the major carotenoid peak in subretinal fluid (41.4+/-14.1 ng/ml). The minor carotenoid peaks of serum were not observed in subretinal fluid. CONCLUSION: There is a substantial amount of retinol and lutein in subretinal fluid. The high proportion of lutein and very low amount of beta-carotene in the subretinal fluid support the occurrence of a highly selection transport mechanism of lutein from the blood to the retina.
Authors: Jianzhong Chen; Dongfeng Cao; Seth D Fortmann; Christine A Curcio; Richard M Feist; Jason N Crosson Journal: Exp Eye Res Date: 2022-06-26 Impact factor: 3.770
Authors: Preejith P Vachali; Brian M Besch; Federico Gonzalez-Fernandez; Paul S Bernstein Journal: Arch Biochem Biophys Date: 2013-07-19 Impact factor: 4.013