Abstract
Effects of vitamin A on Wistar-strain pregnant rats : Marked disturbances in fertility and fetal vitality were induced by excess and deficiency of vitamin A. No significant difference in number of implantation and body weight of fetuses could be demonstrated in any doses of vitamin A. Twenty I.U. of vitamin A administration per day might be necessary to succeed the pregnancy. Histological changes of placenta, anterior hypophysis, adrenal cortex and ovary in pregnant rats in vitamin A deficiency : In early gestation, underdevelopment was found in placenta. During 14 to 16th day of gestation, degenerative changes and hemorrhage appeared in decidua basalis and giant-cell layer, and extended into labyrinth. Gestational changes in anterior hypophysis and adrenal cortex of vitamin A deficient rats were slight and retarded in comparison with normal ones. In ovary, an increase of primordial and small follicles in number was observed. Growth of corpus luteum gravidarum was retarded by vitamin A deficiency.
