Vitamin A deficiency causes oxidative damage to liver mitochondria in rats

Mitochondrial damage in rat liver induced by chronic vitamin A-deficiency w as studied using three different groups of rats: (i) control rats, (ii) rat s fed a vitamin A-free diet until 50 d after birth and (iii) vitamin A-defi cient rats re-fed a control diet for 30 d. No statistical difference in bod y weight and food intake was found between control and vitamin A-deficient rats. Liver GSH concentration was similar in both groups. However, in vitam in A-deficient rats, the mitochondrial GSH/GSSC ratio was significantly low er and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxygu anosine (oxo8dG) were higher when compared to control rats. These values we re partially restored in re-fed rats. The mitochondrial membrane potential of vitamin A-deficient rats was significantly lower than in control rats an d returned to normal levels in restored vitamin A rats. Two populations of mitochondria were found in vitamin A-deficient rats according to the compos ition of membrane lipids. One population showed a similar pattern to the co ntrol mitochondria and the second population had a higher membrane lipid co ntent. This report emphasizes the protective role of vitamin A in liver mit ochondria under physiological circumstances. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.