Effects of shipping, handling, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and epinephrine on alpha-tocopherol content of bovine blood.

In 2 studies, plasma, erythrocyte, and neutrophil alpha-tocopherol concentrations were monitored in beef cattle after shipping, handling, and sample collection. On the basis of alpha-tocopherol results, an additional 2 studies were designed to measure the effects of administration of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and epinephrine on the alpha-tocopherol concentration in the aforementioned blood constituents and on creatine kinase (CK) activity in Holstein calves. In the first of these studies, 15 beef cattle that had recently arrived at the feedlot consumed feed supplemented daily with 1,000 IU of dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. Values for initial blood samples indicated that CK activity was high. Although plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration indicated that vitamin supplementation was adequate, RBC and neutrophil alpha-tocopherol values were generally nondetectable. After 4 weeks of supplementation, plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration increased (P < 0.05), and neutrophil and RBC alpha-tocopherol values became measurable in most of the cattle. In the second study, 6 beef heifers had decreased (P < 0.05) plasma, RBC, and neutrophil alpha-tocopherol values after multiple periods of handling and blood sample collection. In the third and fourth studies, 10 tamed Holstein heifer calves, 5 of which were administered ACTH and epinephrine to simulate stress effects on blood alpha-tocopherol concentrations and CK activity. In study 3, the vitamin E-adequate heifers had increased blood CK (P < 0.001) activity and cortisol (P < 0.01) concentration, and decreased (P < 0.05) neutrophil alpha-tocopherol concentration after hormone injections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)