EFFECT OF ETHANOL AND VITAMIN-A EXCESS ON VITAMIN-A STATUS IN THE LIVER, PLASMA AND FETUSES OF PREGNANT RATS

The effect of maternal consumption of dietary ethanol and high doses o f vitamin A by gavage was investigated by evaluating plasma, liver and foetal vitamin A in Osborne-Mendel pregnant rats with a view to asses sing whether ethanol modulated the potential toxicity of excess vitami n A. All groups received 4000 IU vitamin A/litre in a liquid diet. Eth anol-exposed groups also received 6.4% (v/v) ethanol in the liquid die t. Vitamin A was administered by gavage once per day in corn oil in do ses ranging from 10,000 to 160,000 IU/kg body weight. Plasma vitamin A levels in ethanol-exposed groups were similar to levels in a pair-fed group. Plasma vitamin A levels were similar in the group given ethano l plus 40,000 IU vitamin A/kg and the group given 40,000 IU vitamin A/ kg only, but were higher in the group receiving ethanol plus 80,000 IU vitamin A/kg than in the group given 80,000 IU vitamin A/kg only. Ret inyl esters were present in the plasma of animals receiving 160,000 IU vitamin A/kg only, indicating possible saturation of the liver with v itamin A. Retinyl palmitate levels in female foetuses of the group adm inistered ethanol plus 80,000 IU vitamin A/kg were significantly highe r than those of the group administered 80,000 IU vitamin A/kg only; no significant differences in levels of retinyl palmitate in male foetus es were observed between these two groups. This observation suggests a possible sex difference in the modulation of vitamin A toxicity by et hanol in the foetus.