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Journal of Nutrition Vol. 107 No. 12 December 1977, pp. 2198-2205
Copyright © 1977 by American Society for Nutrition
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Effect of Vitamin a Deficiency on Calcium and Glycosaminoglycan Metabolism in Guinea Pig Bone1

Suzanne S. Harris and Juan M. Navia

The Institute of Dental Research, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama in Birmingham 35294

Using a standardized guinea pig model system, the effect of vitamin A deficiency on new bone formation was investigated. Guinea pigs were fed a purified gel diet with vitamin A (28.5 mg/kg) or without it (A-). The onset of deficiency was determined by a decrease in the serum vitamin A concentrations of the A- guinea pigs. The right incisor was then extracted from each animal and a 1 cm tube implanted in the alveolar cavity. Half of the number of guinea pigs in the A- group were fed retinoic acid (A-/A+; 1 µg/day). The controls (A+) and those receiving retinoic acid (A-/A+) were pair-fed to the A- group. Fourteen days after implantation, the guinea pigs were killed and the nylon tubes filled with new bone (tissue implants, TI) were removed and placed in a tissue culture system in the presence of 45Ca or 35SO4 for 48 hours. The total calcium content of the A- TI was significantly lower than the A+ TI and the uptake of 45Ca seemed to be less in the A- TI compared to the other two groups. The glycosaminoglycan (GAG) fraction from the A- and A-/A+ TI cultured with 35SO4 contained significantly more 35S-sulfur than did the same fraction from the A+ TI. Thus, the lack of dietary vitamin A increased the amount of sulfur present in the glycosaminoglycan fraction, possibly indicating an increase in the amount of sulfated glycosaminoglycans present.

KEY WORDS: • vitamin A deficiency • bone • sulfated glycosaminoglycans • calcium

1 Supported by NIH-NIDR DE 02670-10 and NIH-NIDR Training Grant DE 07020-03.

Manuscript received 13 May 1977.




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