Cystic Pituitary in Young Cattle with Vitamin A Deficiency

Abstract

Cases of cystic pituitary glands have been found in young beef and dairy cattle either suffering from vitamin A deficiency or with a history of early severe vitamin A depletion. The cysts occurred either in the residual lumen or within the posterior lobe, often causing compression of the gland and injury to the glandular parenchyma. No evidence of repair in a cystic pituitary was found in an animal that was vitamin A deficient early in life but later fed adequate amounts of carotene, suggesting that the injury of the gland may be permanent.