Vitamin A alcohol and vitamin A palmitate transfer from ewes to lambs.
The effects of pre-partum intravenous injections of vitamin A alcohol and vitamin  palmitate on vitamin A levels in the plasma and livers of newborn lambs and in colostrum were studied with twenty mature Romney ewes. Injecting ewes with 250000 IU of vitamin A alcohol significantly (P less than .05) increased vitamin A levels in the blood (77%) and livers (75%) of newborn lambs. Differences between effect of vitamin A alcohol and vitamin A palmitate on either blood or liver levels in lambs were not significant. Transfer of injected vitamin A to lamb liver was inefficient (0.37% for palmitate, 0.12% for alcohol). There was 52% more vitamin A in colostrum from alcohol-injected than from palmitate-injected ewes. Although consistent with a postulation of preferential mammary transfer of vitamin A alcohol, this difference was not statistically significant (P greater than .05).
D000438:Alcohols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport; D003126:Colostrum / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010168:Palmitates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
D000438:Alcohols; D010168:Palmitates; D014801:Vitamin A