THE EFFECT OF VITAMIN E AND SYNTHETIC ANTIOXIDANTS ON THE GROWTH <i>IN VITRO</i> OF EXPLANTED RAT EMBRYOS

Abstract

Summary. By means of an embryo culture technique, it was shown that vitamin E has a direct action, without recourse to the maternal metabolism, in maintaining embryonic growth. The action of N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine in vitro was similar to that of vitamin E but ethoxyquin was inactive; the results were similar to those previously obtained in vivo by other workers with these two antioxidants. The implications of these data on the theories of the biological function of vitamin E are discussed.