EFFECTS OF HYPERVITAMINOSIS ON THE EPIPHYSARY DISC IN RATS´ FEMURS

  • Mariana Tomazini Pinto Hemocentro da Faculdade de Medicina USP
  • Ana Rosa Crisci Centro Universitário Baraão de Mauá
  • Maria Helena Simões Jorge Centro Universitário Baraão de Mauá
  • Afonso Luiz Ferreira Centro Universitário Baraão de Mauá
Keywords: Epiphysary Discs, Hypervitaminosis A, Osteogenesis.

Abstract

Vitamin A (C20H30O) is an isoprenoid, unsaturated, thermostable, lipid-soluble alcohol (retinol), insoluble in water which may be found in the precursory form of beta-carotene and later transformed in its active forms (or pre-formed) called retinol, retinoic acid and rectilinic ester. Although Vitamin A has several functions in human development, its excess causes several phenomena, such as sleepiness, irritability, squamous dermatitis, weak nails, gingivitis, fatigue, hypertension, intense headache, general weakness and bone fragility. Since Vitamin A affects bone growth, current analysis evaluates eventual changes in the epiphysary disc of growing rats´ femur when submitted to hypervitaminosis A. Doses at concentration 150.000 UI (0.5 ml / 100g weight) were administered in Wistar rats by intraperitoneal pathway and compared to control group. Each group composed of 8 animals was killed after 10, 20, 30 and 40 days after the injection, and femurs were removed for histological cuts. The morphometry of epiphysary discs showed that animals which received high doses of Vitamin A decreased the thickness of the epiphysary discs due to faster maturation. Results suggest that excess of Vitamin A may increase the maturity of the epiphysary discs.

Author Biographies

Mariana Tomazini Pinto, Hemocentro da Faculdade de Medicina USP
Doutorado em andamento em Biociências Aplicadas à Farmácia pela Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto - USP; Hemocentro da Faculdade de Medicina - USP, Brasil.
Ana Rosa Crisci, Centro Universitário Baraão de Mauá
Mestre em em Bioengenharia pela Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Brasil; Docente adjunta do departamento de Morfologia do Centro Universitário “Barão de Mauá”, Brasil.
Maria Helena Simões Jorge, Centro Universitário Baraão de Mauá
Mestre em Ciências Biológicas pela Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Brasil; Docente no Centro Universitário “Barão de Mauá”, Brasil.
Afonso Luiz Ferreira, Centro Universitário Baraão de Mauá
Doutor em Medicina pela Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Brasil; Docente Titular do Departamento de Anatomia Humana do Centro Universitário “Barão de Mauá”, Brasil.
Published
2015-09-28
Section
Artigos Originais