Vitamin A Deficiency in the Albino Mouse

Abstract

In both male and female mice, placed on an A-deficient diet at about 25 days of age, the normal epithelium of the various structures was replaced by keratinized epithelium. The mice showed evidence of xerophthalmia in 25 to 120 days. However, the severity of the eye symptoms was slight as compared with the changes undergone by other structures of the body. We have repeatedly observed metaplastic changes in the respiratory tract before any eye symptoms were present. The male mice suffered testicular degeneration similar to that described by Mason for rats, fed on both A- and E-deficient diets.