Effect of short-term vitamin A deficiency on testicular lipids in the rat.

In 1933, Mason reported that long-term vitamin A deficiency caused sloughing of seminiferous tubular elements of the rat testis. Since that time, several workers have reported testicular lesions caused by deficiency of the vitamin (Beaver, 1961; Coward, McHowell, Pitt & Thompson, 1966; Gamball, 1966). Gamball (1966) found changes in testicular phospholipid associated with sterility following vitamin A deficiency. Since other treatments which result in sterility also cause lipid changes in the testis (Fleeger, Bishop, Gomes & VanDemark, 1968; Johnson, VanDemark, Gomes, Butler & Hodgen, 1967), it is possible that testicular lipids reflect the status of the testis, even during early stages of degeneration following deleterious treatments. The present study was undertaken to determine whether testicular lipid levels are affected by short-term vitamin A deficiency and, if so, the nature of such changes. Male Wistar rats, 30 days of age, and weighing about 100 g, were fed a commercially available (Nutritional Biochemicals Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio 44128) rat diet, purported to be vitamin A free, for 5 weeks. Control animals were supplemented with 12 i.u. retinol/g of feed to meet the vitamin A requirement. A body-weight plateau, considered the first sign of deficiency,