Search

The aim of this work was to study the effect of various doses of vitamins A and E on the morphometric parameters and surface architectonics peculiarities of peripheral blood lymphocytes in veiled Arctic foxes. Using light microscopy, it was found that in the blood of veiled Arctic foxes (n=30) most of the lymphocytes had relatively smooth surface, and only in some cells cytoplasmic protrusions were observed. Large doses of vitamins A and E that were introduced into animal diet, caused significant reduction of morphometric parameters in relatively smooth forms of lymphocytes, while vitamin A changed the microrelief of their surface.

Phenotypic plasticity and resistance to climatic conditions allowed the wild boar Sus scrofa L. to expand its historical range and move away its Northern border. For the adaptation to living at the periphery of its range under severe conditions of the North, the status of vitamins A and E, which are natural antioxidants critical for growth, reproduction and immunity maintenance, is of vital importance. The aim of this work was to investigate the content of retinol, α-tocopherol, and the low-molecular-weight antioxidant glutathione (GSH) in the liver, kidney, heart, skeletal muscle, lungs, and spleen of the wild boars (n = 65) aged 0.5–8 years, living in the Northwest of Russia. Our results indicate that the studied animals practically did not differ in the retinol content from their counterparts living in the Central and Southern Europe, but had lower tissue α-tocopherol levels, which is probably due to the limited food resources and harsh climatic conditions of the cold season in the North. Vitamin and GSH levels in most tissues were comparable in piglets and adult animals. With age, retinol and α-tocopherol accumulated in the liver and kidney, while α-tocopherol alone accumulated in the heart, which is typical for other mammalian species. An increase in the GSH level was found in the lungs of animals over 5 years of age. The revealed vitamin status, which was formed in the wild boar under conditions of the Russia's Northwest, as well as the peculiarities of the age-related dynamics of the above indices, may serve a compelling evidence for the successful adaptation of this species to inhabiting the northern periphery of its range, as confirmed by the growth of its population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the content of retinol and α-tocopherol in bats living and wintering in Karelia at the northern periphery of their natural habitats, was studied for the first time at different stages of hibernation and during summer activity. A characteristic feature of chiropterans of the northern area is staying most of the year in a state of hypobiosis. Torpor–arousal cycles during hibernation are associated with a rapid increase in body temperature and respiration, which leads to an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species. To study the antioxidant status in five bat species (Myotis brandtii, Myotis Mystacinus, Myotis Daubentonii, Plecotus auritus and Eptesicus nilssonii), retinol and α-tocopherol levels were determined by HPLC in their liver and skeletal muscle. It was found that the antioxidant content was higher in torpid bats during hibernation compared to active animals in the summer period. At the beginning of hibernation, a highest α-tocopherol level in the liver was found in Eptesicus nilssonii, while the retinol level was the highest in Plecotus auritus. Retinol and α-tocopherol levels in the liver and skeletal muscle of Myotis brandtii in spring were higher compared to other species. At different stages of hibernation, α-tocopherol levels in the skeletal muscle can be higher than in the liver. In spring, before exiting hibernation, females demonstrated a higher antioxidant level in tissues compared to males. In all bat species, there was a significant variability in indices, which can be explained by both species-specific and individual differences among animals living in natural conditions. High tissue tocopherol and retinol levels may play an important role in the strategy of antioxidant defense in bats of the northern area during hibernation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the topical tasks of mammalian vitaminology is finding out which physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlie adaptation in different mammalian species to varied environmental factors, specifically, to the absence of exogenous nutrients. This study aimed to evaluate tissue levels of vitamins A and E in four mammalian species (rat, mink, Arctic fox, northern bat) under food deprivation. The former three species were exposed to complete starvation for different lengths of time while northern bats starved naturally during their hibernation since October to March. It was shown that even short-term starvation, which does not disturb the general physiological condition of the animal, can lead to alter tissue levels of vitamins A and E, thus reflecting metabolic rearrangements caused by adaptation to the economical food regime. In different species, the capabilities of conserving vitamins in organs during starvation are dissimilar. In those adapted evolutionarily to long-term starvation, tissue levels of vitamins are less liable to change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]