α-Tocopherol Requirement of the Rat for Reproduction in the Female and Prevention of Muscular Dystrophy in the Young

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Abstract
Under the experimental conditions described, 2.5 mg. of α-tocopherol fed at the beginning of gestation permits the birth of young to at least 85% of female rats on vitamin E-low diets. The litters are of normal size (average 8.6 young), there are at least 85% of living young, 60% of which survive the first 10 days of lactation. Of the surviving rats, 90% develop muscular dystrophy at the end of lactation. Second litters are born to about one-fourth of the females. Under the experimental conditions described, 0.5 mg. of α-tocopherol fed on the fifteenth to the seventeenth day of lactation prevents muscular dystrophy in at least 85% of the young of female rats on vitamin E-low diets. There are no essential differences in the anti-sterility and anti-muscular dystrophy preventing potencies between natural or synthetic α-tocopherol or the synthetic acetate. The α-tocopherol must be fed as it is not so active when administered parenterally. Muscular dystrophy may occur in the newborn rat.