Abstract
One μc per g of radioactive phosphorus in the form of sodium phosphate was given either by intramuscular injection or by oral administration on vitamin A deficient rats. Thereafter, the amounts of inorganic P, total organic P, phosphoprotein, nucleic acid P and phospholipid in the liver along with radioactivity in each of these fractions were measured with the course of time. The amounts of inorganic P, total organic P, nucleic acid P and phospholipid in the liver of vitamin A deficient rats were not much different as compared to the normal rats. The turnover of radioactive P into inorganic P, total organic P, phosphoprotein and nucleic acid P in the liver of vitamin A deficient rats was substantially the same as the control, whereas the turnover or incorporation of P^<32> into phospholipid during vitamin A deficiency was evidently delayed in comparison with the control, regardless of the method of administration of P^<32>. The delay in P^<32> turnover into phospholipid was quickly recovered by the addition of 5,000 I. U. of vitamin A-palmitate per 100 g of diet. Moreover, the above delay was also proved by the in vitro experiments with homogenized liver tissues.
