Uptake of retinol by cultured fibroblasts

Cultured fibroblasts of adult rats were used to determine whether they could take in retinol administered to the culture medium at physiological concentration. After the administration of retinol, cells were observed with a phase-contrast fluorescence light microscope (LM) and a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Retinol and retinyl fatty acyl esters (RFAE) stored in the cells were analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It was revealed that these fibroblasts could take in retinol in the medium at a concentration of 1 x 10(-7) M and store it in lipid droplets in the cytoplasm as retinyl palmitate and other RFAE.