Vitamin E in serum and skeletal muscle tissue and blood glutathione peroxidase activity from horses with the azoturia-tying-up syndrome
Ronéus, B.; Hakkarainen, J.
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 26(3): 425-427
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-605X PMID: 4096328 Document Number: 260731
Vitamin E was measured in serum and muscle biopsy samples from 6 Standardbred horses with signs of this syndrome (AST 20-440 micro U/l; stiff, sore muscles) and 12 healthy Standardbreds (AST 9.2 micro U/l). Blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) was measured using cumene hydroperoxide as substrate. In horses with 'tying-up' syndrome mean serum tocopherol was 1.15 +or- 0.58 mg/g serum lipid, muscle tocopherol was 12.85 +or- 8.0 micro g/g and blood GSH-Px was 1276 +or- 598 micro U/l. Controls had respective values of 0.66 +or- 0.08 mg/g, 4.23 +or- 0.83 micro g/g and 695 +or- 278 micro U/l. The tissue concentrations of tocopherol in affected horses were similar to those in horses fed a daily supplement of 1800 mg or more of DL- alpha -tocopheryl acetate. The high vitamin E and GSH-Px levels may have been caused by previous treatment with vitamin E and Se. The results indicate that low vitamin E or GSH-Px values are not the cause of 'tying-up' syndrome in Standardbred.