Effects of vitamin E supplementation on myofibrillar proteins of fat-tailed awassi male lambs

In this study, the effect of Vitamin E supplementation (for 75 days, 45 mg/day Vit E [DL-alpha tocopheryl acetate]) on myofibrillar proteins in the M. Longissimus dorsi of Awassi male lambs was investigated. The lambs were divided into two groups consisting of a control (CG, n = 12) and an experimental (VG, n = 12) treatment starting at the beginning of the fattening period. Both the control group and the Vitamin E group were fed with a concentrate and grass hay close to ad libitum by biweekly adjustment of the amount offered. In addition, the Vitamin E group received the same concentrate plus a supplement of 45 mg of Vitamin,E (DL-a tocopheryl acetate) per lamb per day for 75 days. The effects of Vitamin E on myofibrillar proteins in the M. Longissimus dorsi were determined using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The SDS-PAGE gels indicated that Vitamin E supplementation to diet had a significant effect on actin, myosin and tropomyosin. The density of these bands increased in samples from the Vitamin E-supplemented group. Also, the pH values of the M. Longissimus dorsi muscles were determined in the present study, and differences between the control and the Vitamin E-supplemented groups were found insignificant.