Carotene and vitamin A in the liver and blood serum of a rocky mountain mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus hemionus population

Abstract

1. 1. In general, means of carotene and vitamin A in the liver and blood of 52–75 male and 61–100 female deer did not differ significantly nor was age significantly correlated with these variables in either sex, 1961–65. 2. 2. Significant seasonal variation in liver carotene occurred during 1962–64 when polynomial curves derived from the total sample peaked during the summer and troughed during the late summer and autumn. Liver vitamin A from these same deer did not show significant seasonal variation. 3. 3. Small amounts of carotene were detected in the blood serum of 10 of 52 males and 13 of 61 females. Significant seasonal variation in blood serum vitamin A were late spring peaks and autumn troughs in 1963 and late summer peaks and winter troughs in 1964. 4. 4. Means of liver carotene and vitamin A and blood carotene were significantly higher in deer collected from upper elevational strata and of 23 independent variables, elevation and climatic factors singly or in combination with indices of nutritive adequacy were most strongly associated with the levels of carotene and vitamin A in the blood and liver of mule deer.