title: Plasma alpha-tocopherol, retinol, cholesterol, and mineral concentrations in captive gorillas.
abstract: Vitamins A, E, cholesterol, and mineral (calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, and zinc) concentrations were examined in the plasma of 74 captive lowland gorillas aged newborn to 41 years. Effects of age or sex on measured parameters were not significant. Plasma Mg and Ca concentrations were lower than reported captive gorilla means, whereas Na and P were higher. Since comparative gorilla values for certain blood components (vitamins E and A, copper, and selenium) are lacking, normal human values may provide the best available indicators for evaluating the plasma levels of these components in gorillas.
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Center, New York Zoological Society, Bronx.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Dierenfeld
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Poppenga
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Brazelton
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006071:Gorilla gorilla / Q000097:blood*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000097:blood*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D010758:Phosphorus; D003300:Copper; D002784:Cholesterol; D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium