Sensitivity of Various Tissues of Holstein Calves to Tocopherol Intake1

Abstract

Data obtained at the termination of three experiments on the total tocopherol concentrations of liver, heart, trapezius muscle and perinephric fat of Holstein male calves, receiving graded levels of tocopherol added to a basal ration in daily amounts ranging from 0.125 to 25.000 mg. per lb. of live weight and for periods ranging from 4 to 12 weeks duration, were studied for the purpose of determining the relative sensitivity of these tissues in reflecting tocopherol intake. Using the sensitivity concept of Mandel and Stiehler (1954), which in this study was the ratio of the rate of linear change of the logarithmic (base 10) tissue concentration of tocopherol on the logarithmic intake of tocopherol to the standard deviation per calf of the logarithmic tissue tocopherol concentration, it was found that the sensitivity was in the following descending order: heart, liver, perinephric fat and trapezius muscle. The first two named tissues were found to be approximately twice as sensitive to tocopherol intake as the latter two. Expressing tocopherol concentration on a per gram of lipid basis resulted in inappreciable change in sensitivity as compared to a wet basis as used above.