Retinol, alpha-tocopherol and vitamin D-3 in White Muscle Disease

Abstract

Vitamins are essential for the health of all living organisms. Vitamins E, A, D and K are known as fatsoluble vitamins, and deprivation of vitamin E causes various disorders, especially in the reproduction and cardiovascular systems and in muscle functions. Vitamin A, on the other hand, has roles in various biological functions - like eyesight - and the growth, reproduction and differentiation of epithelial cells. Vitamin A deficiency leads to the keratinization of the epithelium, and disorders related to the metaplasies of the genital and genitourinary systems. Conversely, vitamin D is defined as a pro-hormone and is responsible for Cahomeostasis, and thus indirectly affects the bone metabolism, bone structure, and cellular and neural functions of Ca. White Muscle Disease (WMD) can occur in newborn lambs, but is more commonly seen in lambs of up to 3 months of age. In this study, 30 lambs of 3 to 50-days-old from different flocks diagnosed with White Muscle Disease (WMD) were selected as research material, while the control group consisted of 8 healthy lambs. With the aim of clarifying the cause of WMD, serum fat-soluble vitamins, retinol, alpha-tocopherol and vitamin D3 levels were determined in 16 lambs. Gluteal and heart musclet issue samples also were taken from 30 lambs with WMD. The vitamin levels of the samples were analysed by HPLC. The levels of serum alpha-tocopherol, retinols, and vitamin D3 were foundto be low in the diseased animals, but only retinol (p < 0.001) and alpha-tocopherol (p < 0.001) level differences were statistically relevant. Macroscopically, Zenker's necrosis was determined in the heart muscles of 17 lambs, and in the gluteal and chest muscles of 6 lambs. 7 lambs displayed necrosis in both their heart and in gluteal muscles. The samples were analyzed microscopically to reach similar findings: swollen homogeneous pink muscles, pycnotic nuclei, and hyperaemic and haemorrhagic blood vessels in gluteal, chest and heart muscles. Hyaline degeneration and Zenker's necrosis, dystrophic regions in necrotic areas, cc was detected as a severe disease in lambs at an early stage of life with advanced degeneration in different muscle tissues. Deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins was also detected in the sick animals. Control group lambs had higher levels of alpha-tocopherol and retinol (p < 0.001) compared to the sick lambs.