Lysosomal acid phosphatase decrease in nutritional encephalopathy in chicks.

Encephalopathy was induced in 14-day-old chicks by a vitamin E-deficient diet containing 15% thermally oxidized safflower oil. Bound acid phosphatase activity in the cerebellum was markedly lower in affected chicks than in vitamin E-supplied control chicks. Free activity also tended to be lower in the deficient group. There were no differences in enzyme activities of cerebrum and liver between deficient and control chicks.