Effect of vitamin E supplementation on α-tocopherol status and tissue antioxidants in American minks (Neovison vison)

The alpha-tocopherol (TCP) state as well as enzymatic (superoxide dismutase [SOD] and catalase [CAT]) and nonenzymatic (reduced glutathione [GSH] and retinol) antioxidants in tissues of American minks (Neovison vison) given various levels of dietary vitamin E were examined. Three groups of farm-bred minks received different amounts of DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (10 mg/kg diet, control; 30 and 110 mg/kg diet, treatments denoted as E30 and E110, respectively) for 14 days in November. The TCP content was raised substantially in the kidneys and reduced in the livers of minks in the E110 group. The action of the 2 vitamin E doses on antioxidants was similar. The treatments resulted in lower hepatic and kidney retinol levels and hepatic and skeletal muscle SOD, as well as hepatic CAT activities, higher heart SOD activity, and higher kidney GSH content in comparison to the control group. The present results show that dietary vitamin E intake over 2 weeks considerably changed the TCP status of the liver and kidneys and had tissue-specific action on measured antioxidants in minks. With the exception of the heart SOD activity, the additional intake of vitamin E reduced antioxidant enzyme activity and augmented the GSH level, indicating an enhancement in the nonenzymatic part of the antioxidant network.