Effect of vitamin A on rat brain maturation as measured by lipid composition

1000 I.U. of vitamin A was fed to 6 day old rat pups on alternate 4 days and its effects studied on 23rd day of age on brain weight, brain DNA, protein, cholesterol, phospholipids, phosphatidal ethanolamine, sphingomyelin cerebrosides, sulphatides, and the incorporation of Na2³⁵SO4 into brain sulphatides. Feeding of vitamin A to suckling rats significantly reduced the above as compared to the controls. The reductions in brain cerebrosides, sulphatides, cholesterol, sphingomyelin and phosphatidyl ethanolamine were larger than the reductions in brain size, suggesting that excess vitamin A impairs the myelination in suckling rats.

Duke Scholars

Author Uma Kant Misra Pathology