title: Vitamin A: not required for adrenal steroidogenesis in rats.
abstract: Previous work supporting the vitamin A dependency of adrenal function in rats neglected to take into account a secondary effect of the deficiency, a decrease in hepatic ascorbic acid biosynthesis. Vitamin A-depleted rats maintained on a diet free of ascorbate had a decrease in the activity of adrenal 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and extensive adrenocortical degeneration. The use of an ascorbate supplement prevented the symptoms. The results suggest that previous evidence for direct involvement of vitamin A in steroidogenesis may have been due to the production of a secondary deficiency, a chronic scorbutic condition.
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000032:analysis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011375:Progesterone Reductase / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D011375:Progesterone Reductase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D003345:Corticosterone