Abstract
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were kept on diets containing three different α-tocopherol levels (0, 10, and 1, 000 mgt 100g diet) to investigate the effects of excess doses of α-tocopherol on the liver lipids and liver functions. Both the content of the lipids except α-tocopherol in the liver and the triglyceride ratio in total lipids were significantly increased by the diets containing 1, 000mg of α-tocopherol per 100g of diet. Many lipid droplets, 5-20μm in the diameter, were observed in the liver. The TBARS per milligrams of liver lipids was decreased by 1, 000-mg doses of α-tocopherol. GOT and GPT activity in serum were in the normal range regardless of the dose of α-tocopherol. From these data, it is considered that excess α-tocopherol promotes lipid accumulation enough to form droplets in the liver tissue, although liver function is not impaired.
