FIGURE 7.

Carotenoid accumulation in tissues of CCO knock-out mice. Total xanthophyll (A) and β-carotene (B) concentrations in serum, whole eyes, and gonadal white adipose tissue (gWAT) of CCO knock-out mice, Bco1^−/−, Bco2^−/−, and respective DKO kept on a diet containing β-carotene and zeaxanthin. Connecting cross-bars indicate ratios of eye and gonadal white adipose tissue carotenoid levels compared with serum. The far right charts in A and B show retinal concentrations of 3,3′-didehydrozeaxanthin and β-carotene, respectively. Values indicate means ± S.D. (error bars) from at least five female mice. Means with different letters (a and b) differ significantly. Statistical significance was assessed by one-way analysis of variance followed by Scheffe tests using Origin 9 software with the threshold of significance set at p <0.05. n.d., not detectable.