Alpha tocopherol levels in various regions of the central nervous systems of the rat and guinea pig.

The alpha tocopherol contents of various discrete anatomical regions in the central nervous system of adult rats and guinea pigs were assayed using a liquid chromatographic method. All parts of the guinea pig nervous system had lower alpha tocopherol contents per gram wet, dry orlipid weights than the corresponding areas in the rat. In both animals the distribution of alpha tocopherol did not correspond to the distribution pattern of total lipid. There was also a rostral to caudal concentration gradient with respect to alpha tocopherol content; gray matter from cerebral hemisphere has the highest concentration and cervical spinal cord the least. In both animals alpha tocopherol content per gram dry weight or lipid weight were higher in gray matter areas when compared with white matter areas. The low concentration of alpha tocopherol in spinal cord could make this region more susceptible to damage from deficiency than the rest of the central nervous system.