title: Effect of supplementing the hen's diet with vitamin A on the accumulation of vitamins A and E, ascorbic acid and carotenoids in the egg yolk and in the embryonic liver.
abstract: 1. The effect of a range of supplementations of vitamin A to the laying hen on the concentration of vitamins A, E, ascorbic acid and carotenoids in the maternal liver, the egg yolk and the embryonic liver were investigated. 2. Four groups of 25 Rhode Island Red hens were fed on standard layer-breeder diets with concentrations of supplemented vitamin A ranging from 0 to 120 micrograms/g retinol equivalents from 28 weeks of age. After 3 months, the concentration of vitamin A in the maternal liver was found to be greatly enhanced in proportion to the increasing rates of supplementation with the vitamin. However, the concentration of vitamin E in the maternal liver was markedly reduced by high dietary contents of vitamin A. 3. The concentration of vitamin A in the yolk of the hens' eggs was markedly increased by the dietary supplementation. However, the concentration of both vitamin E and carotenoids in the yolks were significantly reduced by high dietary contents of vitamin A. 4. The concentration of vitamin A in the liver of the embryo and the day old chick was greatly increased by the high concentrations of maternal vitamin A provision. However, the concentration of vitamin E, carotenoids and ascorbic acid in the embryonic/neonatal liver were significantly reduced by high contents of vitamin A in the maternal diet. 5. The susceptibility of the embryonic/neonatal liver to lipid peroxidation was significantly increased as a result of high provisions of maternal vitamin A. 6. It is concluded that excessive provision of vitamin A to the laying hen results in an adverse effect on vitamin E, carotenoids and ascorbic acid in the embryonic/neonatal liver and can compromise the antioxidant status of the progeny.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Biochemistry and Nutrition, Poultry Research Institute, Ukraine. P.Surai@au.sac.ac.uk
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Surai
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Ionov
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Kuklenko
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Kostjuk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: MacPherson
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Speake
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Sparks
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D004530:Egg Yolk / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D001205:Ascorbic Acid