RELATIONSHIP OF GESTATIONAL AGE TO VITAMIN-A INDUCED POSTNATAL DYSFUNCTION

In an effort to determine the relationship between time of administration and consequent behavioral effects on progeny, a uniform sub‐teratogenic dose of vitamin A (80,000 i.u./kg) was administered to gravid Sprague‐Dawley rats during one of five periods of gestation (days 5‐7, 8‐10, 11‐13, 14‐16 and 17‐19). Offspring were examined for changes in rate of weight gain, locomotor activity and maze learning ability (T‐maze with return to nest as, reward and multiple T water maze escape). Vitamin A 8‐10 animals were hyperactive, vitamin A 11‐13 animals acquired T‐maze slower than controls and both vitamin A 8‐10 and 11‐13 acquired water maze slower than controls. Vitamin A 11‐13 animals were significantly lighter than controls and all other vitamin A groups. Copyright © 1978 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company