The relationship of gestational age to vitamin A induced postnatal dysfunction.
In an effort to determine the relationship between time of administration and consequent behavioral effects on progeny, a uniform subteratogenic dose of vitamin A (80,000 I.U./KG) was administered to gravid Sprague-Dawley rats during one of five periods of gestation (days 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, 14-16 and 17-19). Offspring were examined for changes in rate of weight gain, locomotor activity and maze learning ability (T-maze with return to nest as reward and multiple T water maze escape). Vitamin A 8-10 animals were hyperactive, vitamin A 11-13 animals acquired T-maze slower than controls and both vitamin A 8-10 and 11-13 acquired water maze slower than controls. Vitamin A 11-13 animals were significnatly lighter than controls and all other vitamin A groups.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects; D005865:Gestational Age; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014801:Vitamin A