MURINE RED-BLOOD-CELL FRAGILITY IS NOT AFFECTED BY EITHER VITAMIN-E DEPLETION OR SUPPLEMENTATION

Male ICR mice were pair-fed semipurified diets containing 0, 55 (contr ol), and 500 IU/kg of vitamin E. Plasma and hepatic concentrations of vitamin E were determined and found to parallel the vitamin E levels i n the diet. Even though plasma vitamin E levels were virtually zero in mice fed the depleted vitamin E diet for up to 304 days, there was no statistical difference in the red blood cell fragility between these animals and control, as determined by a hypoosmotic fragility test. Th e diet with enriched vitamin E concentrations also did not affect the fragility of the red blood cell (RBC). Even after 300 days of zero die tary vitamin E, mice appeared healthy, demonstrating neither neurologi c dysfunction nor failure to thrive. The data indicates that mice, unl ike several other species, are more resistant to vitamin E depletion a nd may have other mechanisms to compensate for loss of this important antioxidant.