Figure 4. The contents of lutein, zeaxanthin, and β-carotene detected in the serum of the ApoA-I−/−/Bco2−/− mice and the Bco2−/− mice by HPLC.
The levels of all three carotenoids in the serum of the ApoA-I−/−/Bco2−/− mice were significantly reduced relative to the Bco2−/− mice, suggesting all three carotenoids were secreted to HDL to be transported to the eye. The ratio of lutein:zeaxanthin:β-carotene is 1.0: 2.4: 1.4 in the Bco2−/− mice, while it becomes 1.0: 1.5: 1.7 in the ApoA-I−/−/Bco2−/− mice. Carotenoids were extracted from twenty serum samples of ApoA-I−/−/Bco2−/− mice and twenty serum samples of the Bco2−/− mice. **, P<0.001. Error bars represent standard deviation.