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Retinyl. beta. -glucoronide: its occurrence in human serum, chemical synthesis and biological activity

Journal Article · · Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6762121

When retinol is administered to rats, retinyl and retinoyl ..beta..-glucuronides appear in the bile. Retinyl or retinoyl ..beta..-glucuronide is also synthesized in vitro when rat liver microsomes are incubated with uridinediphosphoglucuronic acid and either retinol or retinoic acid. Retinoyl ..beta..-glucuronide, a major metabolite of retinoic acid in a number of tissues, is highly active biologically, has been chemically synthesized, and is found in human blood. The physiological significance of the glucuronides of vitamin A are not known yet. To investigate further its metabolism and possible physiological role, retinyl ..beta..-glucuronide was chemically synthesized from retinol and characterized by study of its ultra-violet spectrum (..gamma../sub max/ 325 nm in methanol, 329 nm in water), /sup 1/H-NMR and mass spectra. Retinyl ..beta..-glucuronide was extensively hydrolyzed by bacterial ..beta..-glucuronidase to retinol. Retinyl ..beta..-glucuronide is soluble in water and was detected in significant amounts in the serum of healthy human adults. The biological activity of synthetic retinyl ..beta..-glucuronide was determined in rats by the rat growth bioassay method.

Research Organization:
Iowa State Univ., Ames
OSTI ID:
6762121
Report Number(s):
CONF-8604222-
Journal Information:
Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States), Journal Name: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States) Vol. 45:4; ISSN FEPRA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English