Plasma tocopherol, retinol, and carotenoid concentrations in free-ranging Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) in Chile
✍ Scribed by Roberta S. Wallace; J. Andrew Teare; Edward Diebold; Margaret Michaels; Mary Jo Willis
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1996
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 693 KB
- Volume
- 15
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0733-3188
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✦ Synopsis
Plasma retinol and a-tocopherol concentrations were measured in heparinized blood samples collected from 5 1 free-ranging adult Humboldt penguins (Sphenisms humboldti) residing at two colonies off the Chilean coast. Thirty samples were collected in April 1992 from penguins inhabiting the Ex-islote de 10s Pajaros Nifios in Algarrobo, Chile. In September 1992, 21 samples were collected from birds inhabiting Isla de Cachagua, Chile. Samples were assayed for retinol, retinyl palmitate, a-tocopherol, y-tocopherol, lutein, P-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, a-carotene, and @-carotene. Retinol, a-tocopherol, and lutein were detected in all samples, while lycopene and y-tocopherol were not detected in any. A significantly higher percentage of samples had detectable levels of retinyl palmitate and a-carotene in April ( P < 0.001); for P-cryptoxanthin the percentage was higher in September ( P < 0.001). Plasma concentrations of a-tocopherol and lutein were higher in September. Alpha-tocopherol concentrations were 1,877.1 & 99.0 (SEM) p,g/dl in April compared to 2,289 * 122.3 Fgidl in September (P < 0.05); lutein concentrations were 4.16 +-0.43 p,g/dl in April vs. 10.68 ? 1.02 pgidl in September ( P < 0.001). Retinol concentrations were not significantly different (117 5 8.0 p,g/dl in April vs. 105.3 t 7.6 Fgidl in September). Both physiologic changes associated with season, and the change in locale may have contributed to the differences seen in the assay means and the number of samples with detectable levels.