Comparison of pathological changes due to deficiency of vitamin C, vitamin E and combinations of vitamins C and E in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum)

Abstract. Young rainbow trout were fed diets containing different combinations of ascorbyl-monophosphatc (vitamin C) and all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) for 31 weeks. The fish fed a diet deficient in both vitamins exhibited a high mortality and were anaemic after 8–12 weeks. Histopathological examination revealed a severe muscular dystrophy and splenic haemosiderosis. Fish fed a diet deficient in vitamin C but high in vitamin E developed the typical signs of vitamin C deficiency after 16–20 weeks, including reduced growth rate, haemorrhages and gill alterations as well as severe deformations and fractures of the vertebral column. A diet deficient in vitamin E but high in vitamin C led to splenic haemosiderosis after 20 weeks. At the end of the experiment, this group showed significantly decreased haematocrit, haemoglobin content and red blood cell numbers and increased spontaneous erythrocytc haemolysis. In a second experiment, older fish of the same origin were fed diets containing high or low levels of ascorbyl-monophosphatc and all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, respectively, for 23 weeks. The results were qualitatively the same as in the first experiment, but the onset of mortality in fish fed the diet deficient in both vitamins occurred later (weeks 18–23) and deformations of the vertebral column were absent. Haematocrit, haemoglobin content and red blood cell numbers were significantly decreased in the group fed the diet deficient in both vitamins and crythrocyte haemolysis was increased in both groups receiving a vitamin E free diet, the diet deficient in both vitamins having a more pronounced effect. The results of these two experiments indicate that there is an interrelation between vitamins C and E in rainbow trout. Possible mechanisms are discussed.