Dynamics of vitamin A in grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) mothers and pups throughout lactation

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Debier, C, Pomeroy, Patrick, Van Wouwe, N, Mignolet, E, Baret, PV, Larondelle, Y
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2002
• Subjects: FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS; ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL; BETA-CAROTENE; PHOCA-VITULINA; ST-LAWRENCE; HUMAN-MILK; RETINOL; PLASMA; REPRODUCTION; ENERGETICS; Phoca vitulina
• Online Access: https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/dynamics-of-vitamin-a-in-grey-seal-halichoerus-grypus-mothers-and-pups-throughout-lactation(3b1b8b4e-a231-4f74-8c94-b18fb02958e1).html; https://doi.org/10.1139/Z02-107; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0346034902&partnerID=8YFLogxK

Vitamin A concentrations were measured in milk and serum of grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) mothers and in the serum of their pups sampled 2-6 times between parturition and weaning on the Isle of May, Scotland, in 1998 and 2000. Changes in serum vitamin A concentration were also followed in pups during the postweaning fast. During their 18-day lactation period, fasting mothers produced a milk very rich in vitamin A. Concentrations of 6.3 +/- 1.6 and 10.1 +/- 4.5 mg/kg (mean +/- SD) were measured in colostrum (day 0) and in milk at late lactation (greater than or equal to11 days), respectively. Surprisingly, the vitamin A concentration increased at late lactation, even when it was expressed per unit of milk lipids. The vitamin A concentration in mothers' serum was 329 +/- 65 mug/L at day 0. The concentration dropped at day 3 (228 +/- 21 mug/L serum), but increased to 400 +/- 121 mug/L serum at late lactation. At birth, the serum vitamin A concentration of pups (111 +/- 5 mug/L) was much lower than that of their mothers, revealing limited placental transfer. The vitamin A concentration in pup serum then increased throughout lactation to 499 +/- 96 mug/L at the end of the nursing period. At that time, the pups' serum was more concentrated than the mothers' serum, reflecting the great vitamin A ingestion. After weaning, serum vitamin A concentrations of pups dropped over several days and then stabilized at 336 +/- 45 mug/L.