Decreased hepatic retinyl palmitate hydrolase activity in protein-deficient rats

28-day-old weanling rats were fed a diet containing 3% casein as the only source of protein for eight weeks to induce protein deficiency. When compared to control animals (fed a diet containing 25% casein), these rats had significantly lowered body (5.2-fold reduction) and liver (2.5-fold reduction) weights. The circulatory level of retinol (nmol per ml plasma) as well as retinol (nmol per g tissue) in the liver of these protein-deficient animals were also reduced significantly, although their liver concentration of retinyl palmitate (nmol per g tissue) was comparable to that of the control group. Assay of liver tissue for retinyl palmitate hydrolase activity revealed a 4-fold reduction (compared to that of control animals) of specific enzyme activity (nmol retinol formed per g protein per h). These findings suggest that severe protein deficiency results in a decreased hydrolysis of retinyl esters in the liver, which may be in part responsible for the reduced level of metabolically 'active' retinoids available for normal physiological functions.