PHARMACOKINETICS AND TISSUE UPTAKE OF D-ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL IN SHEEP FOLLOWING A SINGLE INTRAPERITONEAL INJECTION

D-alpha-Tocopherol in an emulsible base was administered i.p, to four groups of five sheep each at doses of 0, 1250, 2500, and 5000 IU. Bloo d was sampled regularly until slaughter at 7 d after administration. P lasma and tissue concentrations of D-alpha-tocopherol were measured by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic analysis of plasma concentrations, for the thre e tested doses, showed an absence of significant difference for lag ti me to absorption (.9 to 2.5 h), half-time of absorption (15 to 30 h), plasma half-life (31 to 42 h), and time of maximal concentration (18 t o 31 h). In contrast, dose had a significant effect on area under the tocopherol plasma curve and on the maximal concentration. For both par ameters, statistical evidence indicated nonlinearity for disposition o f D-alpha-tocopherol, but without biological significance; by 7 d afte r dosing, amounts of residue of tocopherol were highest in the pancrea s and adrenal glands (approximately 65 and 47 mu g/g, respectively, fo r the 5000 IU dose) and lowest in neck muscle (approximately 4 mu g/g for the 5000 IU dose). Kidney had an intermediate level of tocopherol. The intraperitoneal route is an efficient route for tocopherol admini stration in sheep.