As. Rahman et al., NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER AND EXCESSIVE ACCUMULATION OF CALCIUM IN BRAIN OF CLINICALLY VITAMIN-A-DEFICIENT RATS, Biological trace element research, 53(1-3), 1996, pp. 57-64
Three groups of rats were fed two types of synthetic diets for 52 d. T
he -A group was allowed free access to a vitamin A-deficient diet and
showed classical signs of vitamin A deficiency. The brain was the only
organ in our experiment where no significant weight difference was pr
esent among the three groups. In the brain, calcium concentration was
significantly higher in the -A group when compared with the PF (Pair-f
ed; allowed restricted amount of control diet) and +A groups (allowed
free access to control diet). In the tibia, calcium and magnesium conc
entrations were significantly lower in the -A group when compared with
other two groups. Excessive accumulation of calcium in brain and appa
rently similar unbalance in bone mineral concentration were observed i
n central nervous system (CNS) degenerative diseases. Our results sugg
est that abnormal metabolism of calcium and magnesium in some tissues
and excessive accumulation of calcium in brain may be responsible for
the development of neurological disorders in vitamin A-deficient rats.