Biochemical development of the rat lung: studies on cellular DNA, RNA and protein content in relation to maternal vitamin A status.

The effect of maternal vitamin A restriction on the biochemical development of the lung in rats has been studied. The vitamin A status of dams has been varied by supplying low, medium and adequate amounts of vitamin A (6, 40 and 100 micrograms retinol/day/kg body weight, respectively) during pregnancy and suckling. The results demonstrate that the restricted supply of vitamin A to the mother affected the growth and development of the lung in parameters of tissue weight, DNA and protein levels and their biosynthesis from respective labelled precursors, RNA contents, cell number and cell size.