[Femur development during lactation in rats whose mothers had undergone vitamin A treatment on the 10th day of...

Administration of a single dose of vitamin A (0.20 ml of Arovit, Roche, containing 30,000 IU of vitamin A palmitate), injected intraperitoneally in rats on the 10th day of gestation had the following effects on the femur of the newborn rats during lactation: longer femurs; earlier appearance of the epiphysial centers; a lower number of cells, increased matrix and consequent earlier maturation process for the zone of hypertrophic cartilage, and thicker and more numerous bone trabeculae. These data were confirmed by morphometric techniques.