Tocopherol Requirements of Rats by Means of the Hemolysis Test

Summary The sensitivity of the red blood cells of tocopherol-deficient rats to the hemolyzing action of dialuric acid in vitro has been applied to the study of tocopherol requirements. Rats which had received the stock diet until they were 2 to 3 months old showed signs of deficiency after only a few days on a tocopherol-deficient diet. Animals which had received large supplements of tocopherol were protected many months after it was discontinued. About 3 mg of DL-α-tocopherol per day per kg of body weight was required for protection of the erythrocytes. The newborn young of rats which had received the stock ration were susceptible to the hemolyzing action of dialuric acid. If the females were given a supplement of tocopherol throughout the gestation period the blood cells of the young rats were protected. The possible application of this hemolysis method to the bioassay of vitamin E has been discussed.