[Femur development during lactation in rats whose mothers had undergone vitamin A treatment on the 10th day of gestation. Morphologic and morphometric study]. / Développement du fémur pendant la période de lactation, chez des rats dont les mères ont subi, au 10e jour de gestation, un traitement en vitamine A. Etude morphologique et morphométrique.

Administration of a single dose of vitamin A (0.20 ml of Arovit, Roche, containing 30,000 IU of vitamin A palmitate), injected intraperitoneally in rats on the 10th day of gestation had the following effects on the femur of the newborn rats during lactation: longer femurs; earlier appearance of the epiphysial centers; a lower number of cells, increased matrix and consequent earlier maturation process for the zone of hypertrophic cartilage, and thicker and more numerous bone trabeculae. These data were confirmed by morphometric techniques.

Effect of hypervitaminosis A on the Harderian gland in rats. A morphologic and morphometric study.

Daily administration of 100 I.U. vitamin A/gram body weight to rats, for a period of 15 days, had the following effects: Body weight of rats treated with excess vitamin A was lower (84.0 g) than that of the controls (147.0 g). The weight of the Harderian gland was lower of rats injected with vitamin A (54.0 mg) than for the controls (87.0 mg). Histological examination of the Harderian gland in the hypervitaminotic animal showed smaller acini, lower cells, wide lumina and small nuclei when compared with the controls. These data were confirmed with morphometric techniques.