610 IX. CAROTENOIDS AND VITAMINS A 



in the controls. ^^'^^ Hypophysectomized rats were found to respond to ex- 

 cessive dosage of vitamin A in the same manner as did normal rats.^^*^ 



e. Other Effects of Hypervitaminosis A. Another outstanding change 

 caused by an excessive intake of vitamin A is the degenerative atrophy of 

 a number of the organs. ^^"^^ Prominent among these changes is the patho- 

 logic deposition of fat in the R.E. (reticuloendothelial) system of the liver, 

 i.e., in the Kupffer star cells. ^^^^•^^^^■'^^^•^^**^~"^^ Degenerative changes in 

 the testicles were noted after long-continued administration of toxic doses 

 of vitamin A to weanhng rats. Adult rats were not affected.^ '** 



Anemia likewise develops in h3T3ervitaminosis A, as might be expected 

 from the fact that a certain amount of hemorrhage occurs in this condi- 

 tion, ^i'*^ However, Lewis and Reti^^^^ do not consider the symptom spe- 

 cific. The erythrocyte count is reduced, and the blood contains erythro 

 blasts. ^^°^'^^^^ The abnormality in the blood picture has been ascribed to 

 hypochromic anemia ^^^th hyperplastic bone marrow, ^^^^ as Avell as to an 

 erythroblastic anemia. ^^^^ According to Rodahl,'^-^ a variable hypo- 

 chromic anemia obtains, associated with subperiosteal hematomata. 

 Hemoglobin is reduced. ^^-- It has also been reported that no storage of 

 li\'er lipids takes place, '^^' and that a temporary increase in the blood 

 hpids occurs. ^^'"^''^^^^ This is in hue with the suggestion that hj^Dcrvita- 

 minosis A is related to fat metabolism, a hypothesis which is also sup- 

 ported by the fatty infiltration of the R.E. system. 



(5) Symptoms of Hypervitaminosis A in Alan 



Hyper\dtaminosis A occurs only rarely in man and, in most cases, results 

 from overdosages of vitamin A concentrates in the case of children. As 

 discussed in the Introduction, the first report of this condition was that of 

 Arctic explorers, who consumed large amounts of the vitamin A-rich liver 

 of the polar bear or of other Arctic mammals. In addition to the masterly 

 review of Nieman and Klein Obbink,""^ other reviews on the effect of A- 

 hyper\dtaminosis in man include those of Klein Obbink and Nieman, "^^ 



11" S. B. Wolbach and C. L. Maddock, Arch. Pathol, 53, 273-278 (1952). 

 'i« J. A..Collazo and J. S. Rodriguez, Klin. Wochschr., 12, 1732-1734 (1933). 

 i'« W. V. Drigalski and W. Laubmann, Klin. Wochschr., 12, 1171-1174 (1933). 

 "" U. Uotila and P. E. Simola, Arch, pathol. Anat. u. Physiol, 301, 523-534 (1938). 

 i"8 C. L. Maddock, J. Cohen, and S. B. Wolbach, Arch. Pathol, 56, 333-340 (1953). 

 ii« J. T. Lewas and L. Reti, Compt. rend. soc. biol, US, 577-580 (1935). 

 1160 G. Poumeau-DeUlle, Compt. rend. soc. biol, 137, 373, 604-605 (1943). 

 11" H. Fasold and H. Peters, Z. ges. exptl Med., 92, 57-62 (1934). 

 i'52 H. Wendt, Munch, med. Wochschr., 82, 1160-1162 (1935); Deal. med. Wochschr., 

 62, 1213-1215 (1936). 



11" H. J. Klein Obbink and C. Xieman, Ned. Tijdschr. Geneesk., 97, 872-877 (1953). 



