[Vitamin E content in cortical and medullary layers of mammalian kidney]

Vitamin E was quantified in the cortex and medulla of human, rat, canine and rabbit kidneys. For the all species investigated the vitamin concentrations, calculated both per g wet tissue weight and per mg tissue protein, was shown to be 1.4-2.2 times higher in medullary layer than in cortical one. The least vitamin E levels were observed in rabbit kidneys of which the cortical and medullary concentrations were 4.4 +/- 0.3 mkg (M +/- SEM) and 6.3 +/- 0.56 mkg per g wet tissue weight, respectively. In human renal cortex and medulla the vitamin concentrations were found to be 10.6 +/- 0.66 mkg and 16.2 +/- 1.1 mkg per g wet tissue weight, respectively. Close values were observed for other species studied as well. The increased renal medullary vitamin E concentrations are likely related to the higher phospholipid metabolism and enhanced prostaglandin synthesis in this tissue.