A comparative survey of the distribution of vitamin A aldehyde in eggs

Abstract

A method is described for the determination of vitamin A1 and A2 aldehydes in solutions containing mixtures of the two. The eggs or ovaries of five invertebrates did not contain vitamin A aldehyde, but ovaries of a cephalochordate and ripe eggs or ovaries of two species of lamprey, four of marine elasmobranch fish, six of marine teleost fish, five of freshwater teleost, one anadromous teleost, an amphibian, five species of reptile and a bird all contained vitamin A aldehyde. Vitamin A1 aldehyde was the predominant form in all except the freshwater perch, pike, and trout and the anadromous salmon, which contained predominantly vitamin A aldehyde. Values are given for the content of total vitamin A1 and A2 esters and alcohols, the percentage of the A2 form and the carotenoid content of the eggs or ovaries.