Abstract
The effects of vitamin E deficiency and a combined high salt intake on pathological changes in the kidney and testis were studied with young rats given linseed oil and cod liver oil for 10 and 27 weeks, respectively, as a preliminary attempt to investigate the relation between vitamin E deficiency and lipid metabolism involving cell membrane fragility. Vitamin E deficiency caused by linseed oil resulted in degenerative renal changes and post-mortem renal autolysis. Supplementation with vitamin E partially protected the animals against the renal pathological changes. When cod liver oil was given, atrophy of the kidney and testis was observed. In both cases, renal autolysis and other signs of vitamin E deficiency were noted. The high salt intake had further effect on kidney changes when linseed oil was given and promoted testicular changes seen with cod liver oil but had less influence on other deficient signs. A decrease in lecithin and linoleic acid of the phospholipids of both organs was shown to be related to vitamin E deficiency.
