The α-Tocopherol Status in American Mink (Neogale vison) Selected for Behavior

One of the reasons for the physiological and biochemical changes in the body of animals that occur as a result of selection for a defensive reaction toward humans is the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system. An aggressive response, raising the level of stress in the body, contributes to the disruption of redox balance. However, data on the content of the main natural antioxidant vitamin E in mammals undergoing selection for behavior are limited. This study was designed to determine the content of α-tocopherol in American mink selected to eliminate (“domestic” or tame) or promote (aggressive) defensive reactions toward humans for 22–23 generations. We studied 4 groups (n = 10 in each) of 11-month-old male standard dark brown mink with varying degrees of aggressive (groups –2, –3) or tame (groups +3, +6) behavior. The content of α-tocopherol in the blood serum, liver, kidneys, heart, skeletal muscle, spleen was determined by HPLC. Aggressive mink have lower levels of α-tocopherol in the blood serum and liver, which reflect the status of vitamin E in the body. In most cases, differences were found between mink of the most aggressive and the most “domestic” groups. These results can be associated with features of the neuroendocrine system responsible for aggressive behavior, which affect the processes of metabolism and depletion of α-tocopherol in the body.