[The effect of vitamin A and beta-carotene on the vitamin E status, ejaculation parameters and health of boar used for insemination].
In this study consequences of vitamin A-supplementation to the vitamin E-status was investigated in the boar. Three groups of boars, each with 9 animals were fed over a period of seven month with 30000 I.E. Vit. A/kg concentrate (group A), 90 mg b-carotene + 1000 I.E. Vit. A/kg (group B) and 1000 I.E. Vit. A/kg (group C). Every boar was given 100 mg Vit. E/kg plus 50 ml soybean oil/kg to induce oxidative stress. After four month group C showed a higher amount of tocopherol in serum (p < 0.05). The amount of tocopherol in serum of the group B were exactly between group A and C. The amount of retinol in serum of the group C began to decrease after three month due to the high reserve capacity of the liver (p < 0.01). The retinyl ester in serum reflected the state of supply. 90 mg b-carotene led to an efficiency of 15000 I.E. Vit. A. The vitamin antagonism between Vit. A and Vit. E is not based on an antagonism of the intestinal resorption. There was no influence on the daily sperm production caused by different supplementations. The sperm quality was lowered in group C; the number of defective sperm increased (p < 0.001). The supplementation of soybean oil lead to an increase of the saturated fatty acids in the fatty acid pattern of the sperm cells. The increase of saturated fatty acids was the lowest in group C that showed the highest amount of tocopherol in serum.
Wemheuer
W
W
Tierärztlichen Institut, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.
Steinbrink
J
J
Fuhrmann
H
H
Schmidt
F W
FW
Sallmannn
H P
HP
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006304:Health Status; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E