Studies on vitamin E and selenium deficiency in young pigs. II. The hydrogen peroxide hemolysis test and the measure of red cell lipid peroxides as indices of vitamin E and selenium status.

The usefulness of the hydrogen peroxide hemolysis test and the measure of red cell lipid peroxides as indices of vitamin E and selenium deficiency in swine has been evaluated. Results indicated that although the hydrogen peroxide hemolysis test may be of some indication of the vitamin E status, it is not a reliable index of vitamin E deficiency in swine, at least on an individual basis. In contrast, the measure of red cell lipid peroxides can be considered a reliable test for vitamin E deficiency in swine. The hydrogen peroxide hemolysis test and the red cell lipid peroxides were not significantly affected by selenium deficiency.     

Effects of supplemental parenteral administration of vitamin E and selenium to Jerseys and Holsteins during the nonlactating period

OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of breed and supplemental administration of vitamin E and selenium (Se) during late gestation on circulating concentrations of these micronutrients in periparturient Jerseys and Holsteins. DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical study. ANIMALS: 16 Jersey and 36 Holstein cows. PROCEDURE: Cows were allotted to blocks on the basis of breed and expected parturition date. Cows within blocks were randomly assigned to be given vitamin E or Se parenterally 3 to 4 weeks prior to anticipated parturition in a 2 x 2 factorial design. RESULTS: Results of ANOVA indicated Jerseys had higher blood concentrations of Se and lower serum concentrations of vitamin E than Holsteins at the end of lactation. Jerseys had higher blood concentrations of Se than Holsteins 3 to 4 weeks prior to parturition and at parturition. Selenium administration increased blood concentrations of Se at parturition. Administration of nutrients did not affect serum concentrations of vitamin E at parturition or 2 to 3 weeks after parturition or blood concentrations of Se 2 to 3 weeks after parturition. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Jerseys and Holsteins consuming rations of comparable Se content differ in blood concentrations of Se during the nonlactating period, suggesting breed-related differences in Se metabolism during late lactation and the nonlactating period. Parenteral administration of Se 3 to 4 weeks prior to anticipated parturition increased blood concentrations of Se at parturition; however, Se concentrations of both groups at parturition were considered within the reference range for clinically normal cattle.     

产蛋种鸡日粮中不同水平维生素E与有机和无机硒的效果研究

在３×５的两因子试验中,研究了不同添加水平维生素Ｅ（４、１４和２４ｍｇ／ｋｇ）与有机和无机硒（亚硒酸钠０．２０、０．３５和０．５０ｍｇ／ｋｇ,酵母硒０．３５和０．５０ｍｇ／ｋｇ）对褐壳蛋种母鸡在２０～４０周龄阶段生产繁殖性能和有关血液指标的影响。结果表明,产蛋母鸡的采食量、产蛋率、蛋重、产蛋量、饲料转化率和死淘率在３个维生素Ｅ添加水平间无差异;除了添加酵母硒０．５０ｍｇ／ｋｇ组蛋鸡的蛋重和产蛋量显著低于酵母硒０．３５ｍｇ／ｋｇ组以外,其它各项生产性能指标在各硒处理组间差异不明显。维生素Ｅ和硒可增加彼此在血液中的存留;当日粮中只补加维生素Ｅ４ｍｇ／ｋｇ时,将日粮亚硒酸钠硒添加水平由０．２０ｍｇ／ｋｇ提高到０．３５～０．５０ｍｇ／ｋｇ可使血浆α－生育酚含量由０．５０μｇ／ｍｌ上升到接近１．０μｇ／ｍｌ左右。     

Vitamin E status in newborn lambs with special reference to the effect of dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation in late gestation

Pregnant ewes were supplemented with dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, either as a single intramuscular dose (500 mg two weeks before lambing) or perorally (150 mg daily during 3-4 weeks before lambing). Ewes without such a supplementation were controls. The vitamin E supplemented ewes had nearly twice as high vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) concentrations as the unsupplemented control ewes at lambing both in serum and in colostrum. The vitamin E concentration in colostrum was 5-11 higher than in milk 1 week after lambing. Both supplementations somewhat increased the vitamin E serum concentration of the newborn lambs, but the increase was negligible in comparison with the effect produced by the consumption of colostrum. All lambs had very low serum concentrations at birth. The lambs from the supplemented ewes had significantly higher serum values than the control lambs 24 h after birth. The ewes had somewhat higher selenium status at birth than their offsprings when evaluated by glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the erythrocytes. It seems reasonable that nutritional muscular degeneration may arise in newborn lambs with a normal selenium status if their vitamin E status is critical, either because of an inadequate consumption of colostrum or because of a vitamin E deficient diet during pregnancy with a low vitamin concentration of colostrum as a consequence.     

Selenium and vitamin E in blood sera of cows from farms with increased incidence of disease

Selenium and vitamin E concentrations were measured in the blood sera of 287 cows in 91 herds. Herds with chronic mastitis and muscle diseases had significantly lower selenium concentrations (10.4 +/- 5.26 and 11.7 +/- 8.63 micrograms/litre serum, respectively) than healthy control herds (17.7 +/- 15.00 micrograms/litre). The selenium concentrations in herds with low fertility did not differ from control herds. The vitamin E concentrations were similar in all the herds. Supplementation of the mineral mixture with 20 mg sodium selenite and 2 g vitamin E/kg on 15 farms with a deficient selenium supply increased the selenium concentrations in the blood within two months in 12 of the herds. The vitamin E concentrations were hardly influenced by the supplementation.     

Effects of vitamin E and selenium administration on pregnant,heavy draft mares on placental retention time and reproductive performance and on white muscle disease in their foals

This study investigated the effects of administering vitamin E and selenium to pregnant heavy draft horsemares on the incidence of retained placenta and postpartum reproductive performance and on the prevention of the white muscle disease in their foals. In study A, 1,000 mg of vitamin E and 50 mg of selenium (E-SE 20 mL) were given to 22 mares 3 weeks before expected parturition (335 days counted from last mating), whereas 28 mares were used as controls. In study B, E-SE were administered 2 weeks before expected parturition at 2 dose levels, with 25 mares receiving 20 mL E-SE, 19 mares receiving 10 mL, and 29 mares kept as controls. Vitamin E and selenium were assayed in serum collected from some of the mares before administration of E-SE and again postpartum and from the foals immediately after birth. Serum selenium concentrations before E-SE administration were deficient (<65 ng/mL) in all mares (n = 48) but were increased in the postpartum sample from treated mares regardless of the dose or timing of administration (n = 31) (P = .05). Only study B mares were deficient in vitamin E prepartum, and both dose levels of E-SE had corrected this in the postpartum sample (P = .01). All foals were selenium deficient regardless of whether their dams had received E-SE or not, although concentrations were higher in foals from treated study A mares than from controls (P = .05). Mares with the highest selenium concentrations prepartum (40 ng/mL and over) had shorter placental retention times than mares with lower selenium concentrations (P = .05) and did not respond to E-SE with a further reduction in retention time. By contrast, mares with prepartum selenium concentrations between 20 and 40 ng/mL tended to respond to E-SE with a shortened placental retention time (P = .07). E-SE administration reduced the mean number of days from parturition to last mating (nonpregnant term) in study B mares (P = .05) and in mares with adequate prepartum vitamin E concentrations (>300 g/mL, P = .05). We conclude that maintaining high level serum vitamin E and selenium concentrations of prepartum mares is expected to increase fertility of selenium-deficient mares. Therefore, the regimen of vitamin E and selenium administrations to selenium deficient mares should be developed.     

Vitamin E requirements of laying hens

In 5 experiments with 1,296 laying hybrids at the age of 22-73 weeks producing eggs for consumption a varied supplementation of between 0 and 20 mg vitamin E per kg of a semisynthetic ration was tested. The vitamin E content of the basal ration was less than 1 mg per kg feed. The quotas of selenium and unsaturated fatty acids in the feed were taken into consideration. Vitamin E and Se supplements did not influence, feed intake, laying, performance, feed efficiency/100 g egg development of body weight and mortality. The supplementation of 14% vitamin-E-free sunflower oil caused a significant decrease of the laying performance by 15%. There was no relation between the humoral immune reaction and vitamin E supply. The peroxide value of the abdominal fat and the activities of the creatine phosphokinase, the aspartate and alanine amino transferase in the blood serum were not directionally changed by the vitamin E, Se and oil supplements. There were no significant relations between the vitamin E content of the feed and that of the yolk and the yolk sac of the chicken. A vitamin E requirement of less than 1 mg and a requirement norm, including a safety margin, of 5 mg per kg feed was derived from the results for laying hens for egg production. A supplement of synthetic vitamin E to laying hen feed is thus not necessary.     

Vitamin E, Selenium and Methionine Supplementation of Dystrophogenic Diets for Pigs

Forty-eight weanling S.P.F. Yorshire pigs were used to study the influence of supplemental vitamin E (25 IU per kg of diet) selenium (0.5 ppm in diet) and methionine (0.1% in diet) on the incidence of hepatosis dietetica and mulberry heart disease when fed a torula yeast-corn diet. Vitamin E and/or selenium increased pig survival. Supplemental selenium resulted in increased liver selenium concentrations. No hepatosis dietetica was observed in any of the pigs. The addition of vitamin E and/or selenium at the levels used did not reduce the frequency of myocardial lesions; however, they prevented skeletal muscular dystrophy and exudative diathesis. The myocardial lesions were less severe in supplemented pigs compared with unsupplemented controls.     

Comparative toxicosis of sodium selenite and selenomethionine in lambs.

Excess consumption of selenium (Se) accumulator plants can result in selenium intoxication. The objective of the study reported here was to compare the acute toxicosis caused by organic selenium (selenomethionine) found in plants with that caused by the supplemental, inorganic form of selenium (sodium selenite). Lambs were orally administered a single dose of selenium as either sodium selenite or selenomethionine and were monitored for 7 days, after which they were euthanized and necropsied. Twelve randomly assigned treatment groups consisted of animals given 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 mg of Se/kg of body weight as sodium selenite, or 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 mg of Se/kg as selenomethionine. Sodium selenite at dosages of 2, 3, and 4 mg/kg, as well as selenomethionine at dosages of 4, 6, and 8 mg/kg resulted in tachypnea and/or respiratory distress following minimal exercise. Severity and time to recovery varied, and were dose dependent. Major histopathologic findings in animals of the high-dose groups included multifocal myocardial necrosis and pulmonary alveolar vasculitis with pulmonary edema and hemorrhage. Analysis of liver, kidney cortex, heart, blood, and serum revealed linear, dose-dependent increases in selenium concentration. However, tissue selenium concentration in selenomethionine-treated lambs were significantly greater than that in lambs treated with equivalent doses of sodium selenite. To estimate the oxidative effects of these selenium compounds in vivo, liver vitamin E concentration also was measured. Sodium selenite, but not selenomethionine administration resulted in decreased liver vitamin E concentration. Results of this study indicate that the chemical form of the ingested Se must be known to adequately interpret tissue, blood, and serum Se concentrations.     

Effect of supplementation of vitamin E, selenium and their different combinations on the performance and immune response of broilers

1. The effect of dietary vitamin E, selenium (Se) and their different combinations on body weight gain, food consumption, food conversion efficiency, leukocyte migration inhibition and antibody production was determined in broilers. 2. Chicks were fed on maize-soya bean based diets with concentrations of supplemental vitamin E varying from 0 to 300 IU/kg and selenium concentrations varying from 0 to 1 mg/kg either alone or in combination from 1 to 42 d of age. 3. The chicks were immunised for Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) vaccine at 21 d. Per cent leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI) was studied on 42 d. Antibodies to NDV in serum were determined at 10 and 21 d post immunisation (PI). 4. Chicks receiving Se, 1 mg/kg and vitamin E 300 IU/kg had significantly higher cellular immune responses in terms of per cent LMI. 5. Maximum body weight gain and best efficiency of food utilisation were obtained in chicks fed diets containing 0.50 mg/kg Se and 300 IU/kg vitamin E. 6. Significantly higher antibody titres (HI and ELISA) at 10 d PI were attributed to 0.06 mg/kg and 150 IU/kg Se and vitamin E, respectively. 7. These data suggest that optimum growth and immune response may be achieved at supplemental level of Se of 0.06 mg/kg and vitamin E at 150 IU/kg. The vitamin E level is higher than that recommended by NRC (1984, 1994).     

Effects of dietary supplements of selenium, vitamin E or combinations of the two on antibody responses of broilers

1. The effects of selenium and vitamin E supplementation on some immune parameters were investigated in broilers. 2. Broiler chicks were fed on maize-soybean diets with different concentrations of vitamin E (0-200 mg/kg) and selenium (0-0.2 mg/kg diet) either alone or in combinations from 1 to 42 d of age. 3. Chicks were immunised against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine at 21 d of age and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titres were determined after 10 d. 4. Chicks receiving supplements of 200 mg vitamin E/kg and 0.2 mg selenium/kg produced significantly higher HI antibody titres. This was associated with an increased serum concentration of total immunoglobulins and circulatory immune complexes. 5. The chicks given 200 mg vitamin E/kg and 0.2 mg selenium/kg had significantly heavier spleen and bursa. 6. These results suggested that vitamin E and selenium have synergistic effects on immune responses.     

Influence of two supplemental vitamin E levels and weaning age on performance, humoral antibody production and serum cortisol levels of pigs

Three trials using 156 Yorkshire x Hampshire x Duroc crossbred pigs (avg initial wt, 7.9 kg) were conducted to evaluate the effects of two supplemental dietary vitamin E (11 vs 220 IU/kg of diet) and weaning age (21, 28 or 35 d) on performance and immunocompetence of pigs. Supplemental vitamin E (220 IU/kg of diet) increased (P less than .01) serum concentrations of vitamin E for all weaning ages compared with pigs fed 11 IU of vitamin E/kg of diet. However, supplemental vitamin E did not affect performance, serum cortisol concentration or the primary and secondary antibody response to sheep red blood cells. As weaning age increased, weekly ADG and avg daily feed intake increased linearly (P less than .01). Cortisol levels decreased during the 1st wk following weaning and then increased linearly (P less than .01) over time; pigs weaned at 35 d of age had higher (P less than .01) cortisol values initially and over time than pigs weaned at 21 and 28 d. Pigs weaned at 35 d had a higher (P less than .01) primary response to sheep red blood cells than pigs weaned at 21 and 28 d of age, but this effect was not observed for the secondary response. There were no interactive effects (P greater than .10) of dietary vitamin E level and weaning age. In summary, the highest level of supplemental vitamin E increased serum vitamin E concentration but did not affect performance, cortisol levels or one test of the immune response, antibody titers to red blood cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Humoral and cell-mediated immune response and performance of weaned pigs fed four supplemental vitamin E levels and housed at two nursery temperatures

Three trials using 80 Yorkshire x Hampshire x Duroc crossbred pigs (avg initial wt, 6.9 kg) were conducted to determine the effects of four dietary vitamin E levels (11, 110, 220 and 550 IU/kg of feed) on the humoral and cell-mediated immune response and performance of 4-wk-old weanling pigs housed at two nursery temperatures (19 or 30 degrees C). Interactive effects of temperature and vitamin E were not observed for any measurements. Serum and liver vitamin E levels increased linearly with increasing level of dietary vitamin E, but performance, cortisol, antibody levels and mitogen-induced stimulation indices were not affected by supplemental levels of vitamin E. Average daily gain and feed intake were higher (P less than .01) for pigs housed at 19 degrees C than for pigs housed at 30 degrees C, but feed:gain ratios, mitogen stimulation index of white blood cells, plasma cortisol levels and antibody titers were not altered. Although supplemental vitamin E above the NRC estimated requirement increased serum and liver vitamin E concentrations, no differences were observed in humoral and cell-mediated immune response, cortisol levels or performance for weanling pigs housed at either 19 or 30 degrees C temperatures.     

Effectiveness of α-tocopherol and selenium supplements in preventing lupinosis-associated myopathy in sheep

Objective To compare the effectiveness of combined selenium and α-tocopherol acetate treatments in preventing lupinosis-associated myopathy in sheep.
Design Measurement of plasma muscle and liver enzymes, and histopathological examination of muscle and liver in the treatment groups.
Procedure The treatments were: subcutaneous injections of selenomethionine and vitamin E (sc(SeM+E)) , an intraruminal selenium pellet and oral doses of vitamin E and intramuscular injections of selenomethionine combined with either oral doses of vitamin E (imSeM+orE) or intramuscular injections of vitamin E in an oily carrier. Another group received no supplements, while a control group was given selenium pellets on day 0 and fortnightly oral doses of vitamin E from day 0 to 72. To produce lupinosis-associated myopathy, the sheep were fed a diet low in vitamin E and given repeated injections of a crude extract of Diaphorthe toxica. Groups sc(SeM+E) and imSeM+orE were stressed by dosing with protected polyunsaturated fatty acids from day 56 onwards.
Results Lupinosis-associated myopathy was induced in all unsupplemented sheep. In these sheep the storage of Se increased and that of vitamin E decreased. The subcutaneous treatment was highly effective in preventing lupinosis-associated myopathy and also produced the highest vitamin E concentrations in plasma and liver. Supplemental vitamin E was more efficacious than supplemental Se. Concentrations of vitamin E in the livers of sheep given intramuscular vitamin E were higher than expected based on plasma concentrations. Oral doses of vitamin E proved the least effective method of increasing concentrations in liver. Lupinosis did not affect Se concentrations in liver or muscle.
Conclusion The sc(SeM+E) treatment is highly effective in preventing lupinosis-associated myopathy but needs to be further assessed when selenium and vitamin E are both limiting in the diet.     

Assessment of vitamin E concentrations in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of horses following oral administration of vitamin E

OBJECTIVE: To determine concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in serum and CSF of healthy horses following administration of supplemental vitamin E in feed. ANIMALS: 10 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURES: Horses were allocated to receive supplemental d-alpha-tocopherol (1,000 U/d [group A; n=5] or 10,000 U/d [group B; 5]) in feed for 10 days. Blood samples were collected before (baseline), during, and at intervals for 10 days after discontinuation of vitamin E administration for assessment of serum alpha-tocopherol concentration. Cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected prior to and 24 hours after cessation of vitamin E administration. Alpha-tocopherol concentrations in serum and CSF samples were analyzed via high-performance liquid chromatography; changes in those values during the treatment period were compared between groups, and the relationship of serum and CSF alpha-tocopherol concentrations was evaluated. RESULTS: In both groups, serum alpha-tocopherol concentration increased significantly from baseline during vitamin E administration; values in group B were significantly greater than those in group A during and after treatment. At the end of vitamin E administration, CSF alpha-tocopherol concentration was not significantly greater than the baseline value in either group; however, the increase in CSF concentration was significant when the group data were combined and analyzed. Serum and CSF alpha-tocopherol concentrations were significantly correlated at baseline for all horses, but were not strongly correlated after 10 days of vitamin E administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In healthy horses, daily oral administration of supplemental vitamin E in feed resulted in increases in serum and CSF alpha-tocopherol concentrations.     

Variation in Vitamin E,Glutathione Peroxidase and Retinol Concentrations in Blood Plasma of Primiparous Sows and their Piglets,and in Vitamin E,Selenium and Retinol Contents in Sows' Milk

The concentrations of vitamin E, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and retinol were analysed in blood plasma of six primiparous sows during gestation and lactation and in their suckling piglets, and the concentrations of vitamin E, selenium and retinol were analysed in colostrum and in sows' milk. During late gestation the concentrations of vitamin E and retinol in blood plasma increased slowly while no changes were found for GSH-Px. This was followed by a large decline on the day of farrowing, when the lowest mean values of 1.07 mg, 0.15 mg and 2879 U per litre (l) of blood plasma, respectively, were recorded. During lactation the concentrations of vitamin E, GSH-Px and retinol in blood plasma of the sows increased to levels observed during late gestation. The highest mean concentrations of vitamin E (17.9 mg kg- 1 ), selenium (200 w g l- 1 ) and retinol (2.45 mg kg- 1 ) were found in colostrum, but with a large variation between sows. One week postpartum the concentrations of vitamin E, selenium and retinol in sow milk had decreased, on average by 86, 68 and 71%, respectively, after which only small changes occurred. Mean concentrations of vitamin E (1.77 mg l- 1 ), GSH-Px (682 U l- 1 ) and retinol (0.07 mg l- 1 ) were low in the blood plasma of the piglets at birth, but a large increase was observed on the next sampling occasion at the age of 3 days (vitamin E: 5.31 mg l- 1 ; GSH-Px: 996 U l- 1 ; retinol: 0.19 mg l- 1 ). The mean concentration of vitamin E in blood plasma of the piglets declined thereafter until the age of 6 weeks (1.04 mg l- 1 ), when there was a small increase, while the mean concentrations of GSH-Px and retinol continued to increase during the suckling period. A high correlation was found between the concentration of vitamin E in blood plasma and sidefat thickness of the sows (r = 0.94), and between the concentration of vitamin E in colostrum and vitamin E in blood plasma of the sows on the day of farrowing (r =0.77). High correlations were also found between the concentration of vitamin E in the blood plasma of the piglets at 3 days and 5 weeks of age and the concentration of vitamin E in colostrum (r = 0.78) and (r =0.89), respectively. The results indicate that vitamin E storage in the adipose tissues of the sow has a great influence on the supply of vitamin E via colostrum and milk to the piglet.     

Studies on vitamin E and selenium deficiency in young pigs. I. Hematological and biochemical changes.

Pigs which were deficient in vitamin E and/or selenium had the following parameters weekly determined from six to 13 weeks of age: Packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, red cell and white cell counts, red cell indices, reticulocyte count, serum iron, serum total iron binding capacity, myeloid: erythroid ratio, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and creatine phosphokinase activities and body weight. Except for the myeloid:erythroid ratio and serum creatine phosphokinase activity, these parameters were not found to be significantly affected by either vitamin E deficiency, selenium deficiency or deficiency of both. The myeloid:erythroid ratio was increased (p less than 0.01) in association with selenium deficiency, which tends to indicate decreased erythropoiesis but was not reflected in the peripheral red cell picture. Evidence of dyserythropoiesis was not found to be a significant feature in serial bone marrow aspiration biopsies of vitamin E and/or selenium deficient pigs. Even if the serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase activities were not found to be significantly affected by either vitamin E deficiency, selenium deficiency or deficiency in both as compared to replete animals, a few animals, especially in the group deficient in both vitamin E and selenium, presented quite marked transient increases of serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase activity which was interpreted to reflect the occurrence of acute episodes of hepatosis dietetica. Serum creatine phosphokinase activities were found to be increased in association with vitamin E deficiency (p less than 0.01), selenium deficiency (less than 0.05) and the interaction was also significant (p less than 0.01). It was concluded that the serum creatine phosphokinase activity increases reflect the occurrence of subclinical muscular dystrophy and that vitamin E and selenium deficiencies have marked additive effects in the induction of skeletal muscular dystrophy.     

Vitamin E and selenium concentrations in livers of pigs diagnosed with mulberry heart disease.

During a 2-year period from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2000, 77 diagnoses of mulberry heart disease (MHD) were documented at the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Mean (+/- SD) liver vitamin E concentrations were lower (P < 0.05) in pigs with MHD (3.12 +/- 1.12 ppm, wet weight) than in pigs that died of causes other than MHD (4.80 +/- 3.2 ppm, wet weight). The majority of the pigs affected with MHD ranged in age from 3 to 7 weeks. Statistical influence of age was found on the concentration of vitamin E (P < 0.01) but not on concentration of selenium in liver in pigs with MHD. Concentrations of vitamin E below 2 ppm were considered deficient. Hepatic vitamin E concentrations below 2 ppm were measured in 25% of the pigs with gross and microscopic lesions of MHD. In contrast, liver selenium concentrations were adequate in all pigs.     

维生素A对鹅生长性能及血清生化指标的影响

本试验旨在研究不同水平维生素A对青农灰鹅生长性能、血清生化指标及组织中维生素A含量的影响。选用1日龄青农灰鹅200只,随机分为5组,每组4个重复,每个重复10只鹅。各组在玉米-豆粕型基础饲粮中分别添加0、1 500、3 000、6 000和12 000 IU/kg的维生素A。试验期12周。结果表明:1)饲粮添加维生素A能显著提高1～4、5～12周龄青农灰鹅平均日增重和平均日采食量(P<0.05),降低死淘率,但对料重比影响不显著(P>0.05)。2)4周龄时,添加6 000 IU/kg维生素A显著降低了血清尿酸含量(P<0.05),添加3 000和6 000 IU/kg维生素A极显著提高了血清碱性磷酸酶活性(P<0.01),但对血清总蛋白、血糖和尿素氮的含量影响不显著(P>0.05);12周龄时,添加6 000 IU/kg维生素A显著降低血清血糖和尿酸含量(P<0.05),极显著提高了血清碱性磷酸酶活性(P<0.01),但不同水平维生素A对血清总蛋白、尿素氮的含量影响不显著(P>0.05)。3)随着饲粮中维生素A添加水平的提高,血清及肝脏中维生素A含量极显著增加(P<0.01)。由此可见,本试验条件下,以生长性能作为衡量标准,1～4周龄青农灰鹅饲粮维生素A适宜添加水平为8 000 IU/kg,5～12周龄为9 000 IU/kg;以血清生化指标作为衡量标准,1～4、5～12周龄维生素A添加水平均以6 000 IU/kg为宜。     

Serum alpha-tocopherol and immune function in yearling ewes supplemented with zinc and vitamin E

Yearling Targhee ewes (n = 24; not pregnant or lactating) were used in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to determine the effects of supplemental vitamin E (0 IU [0vitE] vs 330 IU vitamin E x ewe(-1) x d(-1) [+vitE]) and Zn (0 mg [0Zn] vs 140 mg Zn x ewe(-1) x d(-1) [+Zn]) on serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations, antibodies to parainfluenza type 3 (PI3), ewe BW, Zn liver concentrations, and serum alkaline phosphatase activity. Ewes were managed as one group, grazed native pasture, and had ad libitum access to white salt and water. Ewes that received supplemental vitamin E were orally dosed every other day with 660 IU of DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate in a gelatin capsule beginning on d 1 and continuing to d 63 of the study. Ewes that received Zn supplement were orally dosed every other day with 280 mg of Availa-Zn 100 (Zinpro Corp., Eden Prairie, MN, IFN 6-32-054) in gelatin capsules for 63 d. All ewes were vaccinated with killed PI3 on d 22 and 42. No interactions were detected (P > 0.35); however, serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations and PI3 antibody titer dilutions changed (P = 0.001) over the length of the study. Ewe BW change, serum alkaline phosphatase activity, and liver Zn concentrations did not differ (P > 0.22) between 0Zn and +Zn or 0vitE and +vitE ewes. Serum a-tocopherol tended to be higher (P = 0.08) in +vitE than 0vitE ewes and was numerically higher (P = 0.16) in +Zn than 0Zn ewes. Antibody titer dilutions were higher (P = 0.06) in 0Zn than +Zn ewes and did not differ (P = 0.83) between 0vitE and +vitE ewes. These results indicate that high levels of supplemental Zn may have a tendency to improve serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations but may have negative impacts on humoral immune function.