The relationship between plasma, leukocyte and leukocyte membrane beta-carotene concentrations in bovine animals

Blood was obtained at the time of slaughter from 14 mature bovine animals. Plasma, leukocyte and leukocyte membranes were harvested from each blood sample and beta-carotene concentrations were determined. Plasma beta-carotene concentrations ranged from 32.4 to 115.5 nmoles/dl (17.4 to 62.0 ug/dl) with a mean concentration of 73.2 nmoles/dl (39.3 ug/dl). Whole leukocyte beta-carotene concentrations in these same animals ranged from 0.07 to 0.31 nmoles/g weight (mean=0.17 nmoles/g). Leukocyte membrane beta-carotene concentrations ranged from 0.74 pmole/g to 0.29 n mole/g (mean 0.15 nmole/g). There was a linear relationship between plasma and leukocyte beta-carotene concentrations with a correlation coefficient of .82. A linear relationship also existed between plasma and leukocyte membrane beta-carotene concentrations (correlation coefficient=.78) and between leukocyte and leukocyte membrane beta-carotene concentrations (correlation coefficient=.65). Thus, beta-carotene is present in bovine leukocyte and leukocyte membranes and a linear relationship exists between plasma levels and beta-carotene content in these cells and cell membranes.