Lipofuscin distribution and histological lesions in the vitamin E deficient cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus hispidus).

To identify the role of avitaminosis E in the production of histological lesions and the distribution of an acid-fast pigment in the young cotton rat, weanling animals were maintained on a vitamin E deficient diet for 41 to 179 days. Since the pigment, lipofuscin, cannot be degraded by any cell, including the macrophage, it accumulates linearly with age of the animal and the length of the avitaminosis E. Significant amounts of lipofuscin collect in the adrenal cortex, ovary, uterus, skeletal muscle and liver. Lesser concentrations are found in the cardiac muscle, testis, prostate, spleen, lymph nodes, pancreas, fallopian tube, kidney and bone marrow. Traces of acid-fast pigment occur in the older normal control animals as a natural phenomenon in aging. However, in avitaminosis E this process is accelerated and intensified. With the addition of tocopherol to the deficient diet only a few acid-fast granules appear. These findings suggest that vitamin E may delay cellular aging as supported by the marked abnormal accumulation of acid-fast (old age) pigment in the tissues of vitamin E deficient animals. Histopathological lesions are found in skeletal muscle, heart, kidney and liver of all vitamin E deficient animals.