title: Pre- and postpartum supplemental DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate effects on placental and mammary vitamin E transfer in sheep.
abstract: Twenty-six pregnant ewe lambs were used to study the effect of four treatment (T 1 to 4) levels of DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (0, 15, 30, and 60 IU.lamb-1.d-1) supplemented 28 d prepartum through 28 d postpartum on placental and mammary gland transfer of alpha-tocopherol. Blood samples were first obtained on d 28 prepartum and thereafter with milk samples at designated intervals up to 28 d postpartum for alpha-tocopherol analyses. Similarly, blood samples were obtained from neonatal lambs on d 1 before suckling and on d 3, 14, and 28 postpartum. Ewe lamb serum tocopherol concentrations averaged .66 micrograms/mL before T administration; 28 d later averages were .93, 1.94, 2.63, and 4.07 micrograms/mL (linear, P < .05) for T 1 to 4, respectively. Supplemental vitamin E had no effect (P > .05) on serum alpha-tocopherol of neonatal lambs, indicating inefficient placental transfer. By d 3, lamb serum tocopherol increased to 1.41, 1.84, 2.43, and 4.46 micrograms/mL (linear, P < .05) for T 1 to 4 following consumption of colostrum and declined to .46, .74, 1.10, and 1.68 micrograms/mL (linear, P < .05) by d 28. On d 1 there was a linear (P < .05) treatment effect on tocopherol in colostrum, with a low concentration of 3.30 micrograms/mL for the control (T 1) and a high of 9.55 micrograms/mL for T 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Njeru
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Linda
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation; D012756:Sheep / Q000378:metabolism*; D024505:Tocopherols; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D024505:Tocopherols