title: Expression of α-tocopherol-associated genes and α-tocopherol accumulation in Japanese Black (Wagyu) calves with and without α-tocopherol supplementation.
abstract: The aim of the study was to clarify 1) the distribution of 6 α-tocopherol (α-Toc)-associated gene expressions in 20 major tissues, including metabolic, reproductive, endocrine, immune, and digestive and absorptive tissues, in relation to α-Toc status and 2) the change in expression patterns of the genes induced when α-Toc was orally administered to Japanese Black (JB) calves. This study examined weaned male JB calves ( = 10), of which 5 calves were orally administered α-Toc for 2 wk (30 IU·kg BW·d; TOC group). The others did not receive the α-Toc supplement and were the control (CONT) group. The 20 tissues and venous blood (serum) were sampled on the final day. In both groups, the mean mRNA expression levels for α-Toc transfer protein, afamin (AFM), ATP-binding cassette transporter A1, and tocopherol-associated protein were greatest in the liver ( < 0.05), whereas scavenger receptor class B, Type I (SR-BI) mRNA was greatest in the adrenal gland ( < 0.05). The gene for cytochrome P450 family 4, subfamily F, polypeptide 2 was most highly expressed in the liver, testes, and adrenal gland. The α-Toc content was greatest ( < 0.05) in the testes of the 20 sampled tissues in the CONT group. However, the levels in the testes and jejunum were similar and greater ( < 0.05) than the levels in the other 18 tissues in the TOC group. The mean increase in α-Toc levels after oral α-Toc administration (mean α-Toc content for the TOC group divided by the CONT group content) were greater ( < 0.05) in the jejunum (40.7-fold) and duodenum and liver (26.3- and 23.1-fold) than in the serum (7.8-fold). In the liver, α-Toc administration significantly increased ( < 0.05) the AFM and SR-BI mRNA expression levels. The results show that the liver may play an important role in the regulation of α-Toc disposition, but other peripheral tissues that accumulate large amounts of α-Toc could moderate the local α-Toc status and functions, as inferred from the high expressions of the α-Toc-associated genes in JB calves.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishizaki
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katoh
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol