Abstract
1. Male weaning rats were divided into three groups and maintained for several weeks on a low fat, vitamin E-free diet.
2. Two of the groups termed control and E-excess groups were given, respectively, daily supplements of 0.5mg and 100ml α-tocopherol.
3. The third group termed E-deficient received no α-tocopherol.
4. The E-excess group had significantly higher concentration of DNA in liver than the control or E-deficient groups.
5. On the basis of an assumed constant amount of DNA per cell, it has been possible to compute the number of cells per unit weight of tissue and per liver, as well as the cell mass.
6. It is concluded that α-tocopherol in excess amounts stimulates hyperplasia in rat liver in the young animal.
