Vitamin A, Sulfation and Bone Growth in the Chick

Abstract

The enzyme ATP-sulfurylase, though present in chick liver, brain and spinal cord, was not affected by vitamin A deficiency. However, the vitamin deficiency caused increased organic (but not inorganic) deposition in chick bone, increased water content, and increased total wet weight of bones. Chondroitin sulfate, as measured by uronic acid concentration and sulfate uptake, was higher in the epiphyses of deficient bone. Tricarboxylic acid cycle and glycolysis reactions and uptake of amino acids into protein took place at a higher rate in deficient bone. No differences were found for collagen formation. These results tend to suggest that the increased metabolic activity of deficient bone may accompany some form of overgrowth of the deficient bones, possibly of the intercellular matrix.