STUDY OF THE ANTILITHOGENIC AND LITHOLYTI C ACTION OF VITAMIN-A ON EXPERIMENTAL LITHIASIS IN THE RAT

Oxalate lithiasis was induced in control rats and rats previously give n a vitamin A supplement for one week at the dose for 200 UI/d/kg body weight. Oxalate and calcium deposits in renal tissue measured 24 hour s after the induction of lithiasis were found to be significantly lowe r in the vitamin A supplemented rats (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01) respecti vely). Renal function in these animals was also improved as compared w ith controls (p < 0.05). However, when vitamin A supplements were give n for the same period and at the same dose, but after the induction of oxalate lithiasis, no difference regarding oxalate and calcium deposi ts was found between the two groups of animals. The same applied to re nal function, which showed no improvement in the supplemented animals as compared with controls. These results suggest that vitamin A supple ments have an inhibitory effect on lithogenesis but probably no lithol ytic action as such. The effect of vitamin A is probably related to it s action on tubular cellular repair or an inhibitory effect on necrosi s of these cells.