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Plasma tocopherol, retinol, and carotenoid concentrations in free‐ranging Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) in Chile

1996; Wiley; Volume: 15; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/(sici)1098-2361(1996)15

1098-2361

Roberta S. Wallace, J. Andrew Teare, Edward N. Diebold, Margaret Michaels, Mary Jo Willis,

Reproductive biology and impacts on aquatic species

Plasma retinol and α-tocopherol concentrations were measured in heparinized blood samples collected from 51 free-ranging adult Humboldt penguins (Sphenicus humboldti) residing at two colonies off the Chilean coast. Thirty samples were collected in April 1992 from penguins inhabiting the Ex-islote de los Pájaros Niños in Algarrobo, Chile. In September 1992, 21 samples were collected from birds inhabiting Isla de Cachagua, Chile. Samples were assayed for retinol, retinyl palmitate, α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, lutein, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, α-carotene, and β-carotene. Retinol, α-tocopherol, and lutein were detected in all samples, while lycopene and γ-tocopherol were not detected in any. A significantly higher percentage of samples had detectable levels of retinyl palmitate and α-carotene in April (P < 0.001): for β-cryptoxanthin the percentage was higher in September (P < 0.001). Plasma concentrations of α-tocopherol and lutein were higher in September. Alpha-tocopherol concentrations were 1,877.1 ± 99.0 (SEM) μg/dl in April compared to 2.289 ± 122.3 μg/dl in September (P < 0.05); lutein concentrations were 4.16 ± 0.43 μg/dl in April vs. 10.68 ± 1.02 μg/dl in September (P < 0.001). Retinol concentrations were not significantly different (117 ± 8.0 μg/dl in April vs. 105.3 ± 7.6 μg/dl 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. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.