Liver and plasma retinol (vitamin A) in wild, and liver retinol in captive penguins (Spheniscidae)

• Published in: Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Ghebrmeskel, K., Williams, G., Keymer, I. F., Horsley, D. T.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1989
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctica; Aptenodytes forsteri; Aptenodytes patagonica; Eudyptes crestatus; Pygoscelis adeliae; Pygoscelis antarctica; Pygoscelis papua
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1989.tb02580.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1469-7998.1989.tb02580.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1989.tb02580.x; https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1989.tb02580.x

In rockhopper penguins ( Eudyptes crestatus ), liver concentrations of retinol (vitamin A) were significantly higher in post‐moult than in pre‐moult birds. In Magellanic penguins ( Spheniscus magelianicus ), plasma concentrations of retinol were significantly higher in post‐moult than in pre‐moult birds; liver retinol concentrations were also higher, but not significantly so. The pre‐ and post‐moult Magellanics had higher liver and lower plasma retinol concentrations than the pre‐ and post‐moult rockhoppers. Captive blackfooted (jackass) ( Spheniscus demersus ), king ( Aptenodytes patagonica ) and Humboldt ( Spheniscus humboldti ) penguins had liver vitamin A stores significantly lower than those of the free‐living rockhopper, Magellanic, gentoo ( Pygoscelis papua ), emperor ( Aptenodytes forsteri ), chinstraps ( Pygoscelis antarctica ) and Adélie ( Pygoscelis adeliae ) penguins.