Abstract
Vitamin E is thought to be important for protection of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from oxidative damage. A microbiochemical procedure using microdissection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed to determine vitamin E distribution in ocular tissues in a rodent model, with the eventual goal of using it in a study of phototoxic degeneration of the retina, where PUFA oxidation is potentially the causal mechanism. Sample preparation was achieved by freeze-drying the retina followed by micro-dissection to obtain the desired structures for analysis. A deuterated α-tocopherol internal standard is added to the tissue sample before extraction and derivatization which are achieved in a single step. The data presented show the vitamin-E content in various structures of the retina, particularly the outer segments and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE); however, the vitamin E content of other ocular tissues is also included. Data were obtained from albino and pigmented rats receiving vitamin E-depleted, supplemented, and regular chow diets, and from rabbits and cats receiving regular chow diets formulated for each species. Within all dietary groups the highest concentration of vitamin E was located in the RPE followed by the outer segments of the photoreceptor cells. Other ocular tissues consistently contained lower amounts of vitamin E. Different tissues were depleted of vitamin E at different rates and this points out the importance of determining vitamin E levels in tissues of interest in studies on the consequences of dietary depletion.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 237-245 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Experimental Eye Research |
Volume | 47 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1988 |
Keywords
- freeze-dried tissue
- gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
- microdissection
- retina
- vitamin E