Evaluation of a two-generation rat model for vitamin A deficiency and the interrelationship with iron metabolism.
In order to induce a range of vitamin A-deficient states in young growing rats and to study the effect of vitamin A deficiency on Fe status, we designed the following two-generation experiment. Dams were fed on diets with one of five vitamin A levels from 2 weeks before and throughout pregnancy and lactation. The pups received the same diets as their mothers both before and after weaning. The five dietary levels of vitamin A were 1200, 450, 150, 75 and 0 retinol equivalents/kg feed. Vitamin A intake did not affect reproduction outcome, nor were body and liver weights of the pups affected when they were 3.5 weeks old. Male pups with normal vitamin A status had higher plasma retinol levels than female pups. Vitamin A status of the offspring was affected from 3.5 weeks onwards. Body and liver weights were decreased in the male pups given the lowest dietary vitamin A levels from week 6.5 onwards but not in the female pups. Fe status was marginally affected. Haemoglobin levels were increased and total Fe-binding capacity was decreased in the groups given no dietary vitamin A at week 9.5. Splenic Fe was increased only in the male pups given the lowest levels of dietary vitamin A. However, as a whole, Fe status was only mildly affected and subject to considerable variation. We conclude that the two-generation rat model described here is not suitable for studying effects of vitamin A deficiency on Fe metabolism.
Department of Human Nutrition, Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands.
A J
AJ
Roodenburg
C E
CE
West
R
R
Hovenier
A C
AC
Beynen
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008098:Litter Size; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*
D014801:Vitamin A; D007501:Iron