Effect of vitamin A palmitate on vitamin A-deficient rabbits

Purpose: We examined the effects of vitamin A palmitate (VA pal) eyedrops on the symptoms caused by vitamin A-deficiency in rabbits. Methods: Three-week-old rabbits were raised on a vitamin A-deficient diet, and were examined for the quantity of retinol in the serum and the condition of the anterior segment of the eye. The vitamin A-deficient animals were treated with VA pal eyedrops.Results: The retinol in the serum began to decrease 7 months after the animals were placed on the vitamin A-deficient diet. After 10 months, superficial punctate keratitis and the loss of conjunctival goblet cells were observed. Treatment of the disease in the anterior segment of the eyes with VA pal eyedrops resulted in restoration of normal condition within 3 weeks. The treatment increased the goblet cells in the ocular conjunctiva and the retinol in the serum. Conclusions: These results show the efficacy of topical VA pal treatment for vitamin A-deficient rabbits.