QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nelson, E. C. Articles by Pounden, W. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nelson, E. C. Articles by Pounden, W. D.

Effect of Vitamin A Intake on Some Biochemical and Physiological Changes in Swine^1,2,

Department of Animal Science, Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, Wooster, Ohio

Thirteen purebred Yorkshire pigs were weaned at three weeks of age and fed a purified vitamin A-deficient diet ad libitum until blood plasma vitamin A concentrations were less than 7 µg/100 ml. Cerebrospinal fluid pressures were then measured and the pigs were assigned to either 2, 4, 8 or 16 µg of vitamin A per pound of live weight per day. The basal diet was then fed at the rate of 4.0% of each pigs body weight and increased 0.3 pound per pig at the end of each week. At the end of 11 weeks, terminal cerebrospinal fluid pressures and plasma vitamin A concentrations were measured, the animals were killed and the concentrations of some constituents of blood serum, cerebrospinal fluid and aqueous humor determined. In addition, a histological examination was made of various tissues including the eye and the parotid salivary gland and duct.

Growth rate was not affected adversely by vitamin A intake. Cerebrospinal fluid pressure increased with decreased blood plasma vitamin A concentration and vitamin A intake. Blood plasma vitamin A, liver vitamin A and serum potassium increased with vitamin A intake. Histological examinations indicated there were no consistent changes relative to vitamin A intake. The minimal vitamin A requirement for the pigs under the experimental conditions of this study necessary to produce normal plasma vitamin A, some liver storage and low CSF pressure appeared to be between 8 and 16 µg of vitamin A per pound of live weight per day.

² Presented in part before the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Animal Production, Chicago, 1960. See J. Animal Sci., 19: 1278 (abstract no. 163).

³ Department of Veterinary Science.

Manuscript received 30 October 1961.