The effect of maternal diet low in vitamin A on brain constituents of preweanling rats.

The effect of maternal diet 'low' in vitamin A during pregnancy and lactation
on the brain lipid components of offspring during the preweaning period was
studied.
Brain lipid constituents, DNA and protein of ID-17 day old rats from mother
rats given 100 I.V. or 10 lV. of vitamin A acetate per day were estimated. Comparative
data on brain lipids of infants rats 'undernourished' from birth till day
were also obtained. Body and brain weights of pups born to mother rats on 'low~
vitamin A diets were significantly reduced. Decreases in brain cholesterol and
an altered pattern of accumulation of gangliosides were observed in preweaning
rats. Significant reduction in brain gangliosides of 17 day old rats was observed
in the 'low' vitamin A group but not in the 'undernourished' rats of the same
age. The significance of these findings on the possible need for vitamin A for
normal brain development in the rat during the suckling period is discussed.