AUTHOR=Zhang Yan , Tian Kui , Chen Guoxun 

TITLE=Replenishment of vitamin A for 7 days partially restored hepatic gene expressions altered by its deficiency in rats

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.999323

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2022.999323

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<p>We investigated the effects of vitamin A (VA) status on metabolism of Zucker rats with different genders and genotypes, and of short-term refeeding of a VA sufficient (VAS) diet on VA deficient (VAD) animals. First, male and female Zucker lean (ZL) and fatty (ZF) rats at weaning were fed a VAD or VAS diet for 8 weeks. Second, male VAD ZL rats were fed a VAS diet for 3 (VAD-VAS3d) or 7 (VAD-VAS7d) days. The body weight (BW), blood parameters, and hepatic expressions of genes for metabolism were determined. VA deficiency reduced BW gain in ZL and ZF rats of either gender. VAD ZL rats had lower plasma glucose, insulin, and leptin levels than VAS ZL rats. VAD-VAS3d and VAD-VAS7d rats had higher plasma glucose, insulin, and leptin levels than that in the VAD rats. The hepatic mRNA levels of <italic>Gck, Cyp26a1, Srebp-1c, Igf1, Rarb, Rxra, Rxrg, Pparg</italic>, and <italic>Ppard</italic> were lowered by VA deficiency. Refeeding of the VAS diet for 3 days restored the <italic>Gck</italic> and <italic>Cyp26a1</italic> expressions, and for 7 days restored the <italic>Gck, Cyp26a1, Igf1</italic>, and <italic>Rxrb</italic> expressions significantly. The 7-day VA replenishment partially restored the hepatic gene expressions and metabolic changes in VAD ZL rats.</p>