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Effects of Vitamin E Deficiency on the Relative Incorporation of ¹⁴C-Arachidonate into Platelet Lipids of Rabbits¹

Department of Human Nutrition and Foods, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061

The potential influence of vitamin E in vivo on the transformation of ¹⁴C-arachidonate (¹⁴C-ArA) in washed platelets from vitamin E-depleted, pair-fed control and ad libitum-fed control rabbits was investigated. We considered rabbits vitamin E-depleted when their plasma total tocopherol levels were <50% of initial values. By week 7 deficient rabbits exhibited significantly lower (P < 0.01) plasma and platelet tocopherol levels and significantly higher (P < 0.01) urinary creatine:creatinine ratios than those of controls. Thrombin treatment of platelet suspensions that were previously incubated with ¹⁴C-ArA resulted in significantly greater (P < 0.05) losses of radiolabel from phospholipids (PL) and significantly greater (P < 0.05) ¹⁴C incorporation into prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) fractions from deficient animals than those of either control group. The significantly greater (P < 0.05) losses in lipid phosphorus content of phosphatidylcholine (PC) fractions corroborated the significantly diminished (P < 0.05) radiolabel detected in the PC fraction of deficient animals with thrombin activation. Such findings suggest an enhancement of thrombin-induced phospholipase A₂ (PLPA) activity in platelets of vitamin E-deficient rabbits compared to that of controls.

KEY WORDS: • vitamin E deficiency • platelets • thrombin

¹ Taken in part from a dissertation submitted by Tangney to the Graduate School, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree.

² Present address: Section of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Related Health Programs, Rush University, 1743 West Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60612.

³ To whom reprint requests should be sent.

Manuscript received 2 March 1981.