Implantation in Normal and Vitamin E Deficient Rats

The implantation rate in a highly inbred rat colony maintained on a complete, purified diet was determined until the rats were 2½ years old. The implantation rate of rats maintained on the same diet without the tocopherol supplement was found to be significantly lower than that of the control group after the rats were 9 weeks old. Tocopherol is essential for the ability of the rat to become pregnant. Single doses of 1–3 mg of alpha-tocopherol administered early in life have a beneficial effect on subsequent growth, implantation rate, and life span of the female rat.