Newborn rats were treated with a single dose of vitamin A (retinol), or with three
doses of retinoic acid (in the 1st, 3rd and 5th days). Serum testosterone and progesterone
level was measured in the four months old male and female rats, respectively. Retinol
significantly decreased both hormone levels, however retinoic acid decreased the progesterone
level only. In the second part of the experiments adolescent rats (in the 6th and
7th week after birth) were treated and measured similar to the newborns. In this case
retinol significantly diminished testosterone level, without influencing the progesterone
level. Retinoic acid decreased testosterone level and elevated progesterone level.
The results demonstrate the long lasting effects of retinoid treatments at a neonatal
or adolescent age, pointing also to the differences in the direction of the effects.
Considering that previously the receptorial and sexual-behavioral effects of perinatal
vitamin A treatments were observed, the experiments call attention to such harmful
influences of perinatal vitamin A treatments, which are not manifested in morphological
alterations.
Key words
Retinoids - Testosterone - Progesterone - Hormonal imprinting
