Disruption of nerve tissue cholesterol metabolism in the case of an excess of vitamin A in the growing body

: Subcellular distribution and the rate of labelled precursors incorporation into fractions of cholesterol esters were studied in brain and spinal cord of growing rats consuming overdoses of vitamin A. Per os administration of retinyl acetate during 10-16 days of postnatal period at a dose of 1,000 IU resulted in intracellular imbalance of cholesterol content and in distinct increase of cholesterol esters in all the subcellular fractions studied. A decrease of 2-(14)C- acetate incorporation into cholesterol esters of nervous tissue caused by vitamin A overloading was also detected. Analysis of gas chromatograms showed an increase in content of palmitic acid as well as a decrease of unsaturated acids in fractions of cholesterol esters of these animals brain tissues. The impairments of cholesterol metabolism found in nervous tissue of growing body under conditions of retinol overloading may be responsible for deterioration of myelinization.