α‐Tocopherol absorption and polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism in the developing chick embryo

Abstract

1. A study has been made relating α‐tocopherol uptake from the yolk and yolk sac membrane to the polyunsaturated fatty acid status of the liver during incubation. 2. Whereas at day 15 of incubation lipid in the liver showed an exceedingly high degree of unsaturation and potential for oxidation because of accumulation of C20 and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids, α‐tocopherol concentrations were exceedingly low. 3. In contrast, very high concentrations of α‐tocopherol occurred within the liver just before hatching by which time amounts of polyunsaturates and the need for oxidation protection had reduced considerably.