Handelman G J, Dratz E A, Reay C C, van Kuijk J G
Department of Chemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman 59717.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1988 Jun;29(6):850-5.
The carotenoid pigments in the whole human retina and in the macular region were measured quantitatively by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Approximately a five-fold larger amount of carotenoids was found in the human macula (35-120 ng) than in previously reported work. The dominant carotenoids in the whole retina are lutein and zeaxanthin. Zeaxanthin is concentrated in the macular region, whereas lutein is dispersed throughout the entire retina. Contrary to prior reports, substantial quantities of both carotenoids are present in the infant retina. Increasing variability is observed in carotenoid levels between individuals with advancing age, and some older individuals show very high whole retina carotenoid levels. These quantitative studies were made possible by synthesis of a new, stable carotenoid internal standard. Carotenoids have been proposed to be potent antioxidants, protecting membrane lipids from toxic peroxidation reactions. The method presented in this study will facilitate quantitative investigations of the association between carotenoid levels and health and disease of the retina.
采用高压液相色谱法（HPLC）对整个人类视网膜及黄斑区中的类胡萝卜素色素进行了定量测定。研究发现，人类黄斑区中的类胡萝卜素含量（35 - 120纳克）比之前报道的工作中所发现的量大约多五倍。整个视网膜中主要的类胡萝卜素是叶黄素和玉米黄质。玉米黄质集中在黄斑区，而叶黄素则分散于整个视网膜。与之前的报道相反，婴儿视网膜中存在大量的这两种类胡萝卜素。随着年龄增长，个体之间类胡萝卜素水平的变异性增加，一些老年人的整个视网膜类胡萝卜素水平非常高。这些定量研究因合成了一种新的、稳定的类胡萝卜素内标而得以实现。类胡萝卜素被认为是强效抗氧化剂，可保护膜脂免受有毒的过氧化反应。本研究中介绍的方法将有助于对类胡萝卜素水平与视网膜健康及疾病之间的关联进行定量研究。
