LONG-TERM SUPPLEMENTATION OF CANTHAXANTHIN DOES NOT INHIBIT GASTRIC EPITHELIAL-CELL PROLIFERATION IN HELICOBACTER MUSTELAE-INFECTED FERRETS

The effect of canthaxanthin (CX), a non-provitamin A carotenoid, on ga stric epithelial proliferation was studied in ferrets colonized with H elicobacter mustelae, which causes a chronic gastritis and an increase d gastric epithelial cell proliferation. Seven spayed female ferrets w ere dosed by gavage with CX beadlets (50 mg/kg body wt, 5 d/wk) over 2 y, whereas seven control animals were given placebo beadlets, At the end of the 2-y-period, ferrets were killed, and gastric tissues were o btained from the antrum and body regions. A cell-proliferating biomark er, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), was assayed by immunohi stochemistry, The PCNA positivity was measured by a computer-based ima ge analysis system. Serum concentrations of carotenoids, retinoids and tocopherols were analyzed by HPLC. Serum antioxidant status was measu red by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. The PCNA p ositivity in both antrum and body regions was not significantly differ ent between CX-fed ferrets and controls. Serum CX concentrations were significantly higher in CX-fed ferrets vs. controls (P < 0.001), where as levels of other carotenoids, retinoids and tocopherols were not sig nificantly different. The ORAC values were not significantly different between groups. This study does not suggest inhibitory effects of CX on gastric epithelial cell proliferation in H, mustelae infected ferre ts.