Influence of beta-carotene supplementation on carotene content of ovaries of heifers

Carotene is stored as a tissue reserve in the corpus luteum. With different carotene supplementations in heifers (0, 100, 200 and 300 mg/animal and day) it could be clearly seen that the carotene concentration in the corpus luteum (2.3, 27, 50 and 81 micrograms/g) was directly dependent on it. On the other hand, the weight of corpus luteum (3.8 to 4.6 g) was not influenced (P greater than 0.05) by carotene supplementation. Apart from corpus luteum carotene was also stored in orange coloured pigment corpuscles of ovary. The carotene concentration of the pigments was 6 to 70 times higher (158, 150, 334 and 487 micrograms/g) than in the corpus luteum. Weights of the pigments rose with increased carotene doses. However, the weights amounted to merely 4 to 11% of the corpus luteum's mass. The amount of carotene in corpus lutea of animals added with carotene contained was higher than that of pigments. Further investigations are necessary to characterize the physiological importance of the pigment corpuscles.