Carotene is stored as a tissue reserve in the corpus luteum. With different carotene supplementations in heifers (0, 100, 200 and 300 mg/animal and day) it could be clearly seen that the carotene concentration in the corpus luteum (2.3, 27, 50 and 81 micrograms/g) was directly dependent on it. On the other hand, the weight of corpus luteum (3.8 to 4.6 g) was not influenced (P greater than 0.05) by carotene supplementation. Apart from corpus luteum carotene was also stored in orange coloured pigment corpuscles of ovary. The carotene concentration of the pigments was 6 to 70 times higher (158, 150, 334 and 487 micrograms/g) than in the corpus luteum. Weights of the pigments rose with increased carotene doses. However, the weights amounted to merely 4 to 11% of the corpus luteum's mass. The amount of carotene in corpus lutea of animals added with carotene contained was higher than that of pigments. Further investigations are necessary to characterize the physiological importance of the pigment corpuscles.
The objective of the study was to investigate the influence of different levels of β-carotene supplements on the β-carotene concentration in the corpus luteum and on hormone concentrations in the plasma of heifers. 32 heifers (average body weight: 371 kg) were fed a low carotene diet (< 1 mg per kg DM) for 120 days. The heifers were divided into four groups according to body weight and age and supplied with 0, 100, 200 or 300 mg β-carotene per animal and day. Heifers were artifically inseminated after day 60 of the experiment and were slaughtered after day 120 of the experiment. Carotene concentration in the corpus luteum (2.3, 27, 50 and 81 μg/g for 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg β-carotene per animal per day), in plasma and in ovary was significantly influenced with increased carotene supplements. LH-concentration of plasma decreased and β-oestradiol-concentration increased with carotene supplementation. High concentrations of β-carotene in the corpus luteum and ovaries of cattle seem to act as a depot which is available when high vitamin A requirements during ovulation have to be met.
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