Effect of administration of large doses of retinol on spleen lipids of rats.

After the intramuscular administration of 100,000 LU. of retinol (Prepalin) daily for 13 days to a group of young rats, their daily food consumption, body weights, total spleen lipids, total spleen cholesterol and phospholipid phosphorus did not differ significantly from a control group. A significant enlargement of spleen was observed in the treated rats. A significant increase in the con centration of triglycerides and a significant decrease in the con centration of diglycerides was observed in the spleens of retinol treated rats. Of spleen phospholipids, phosphatidyl choline and crude phosphatidyl inositol fraction showed significant elevation, whereas phosphatidyl ethanolamine and sphingomyelin and lyso phosphatidyl ethanolamine fraction showed significant decrease in the treated group.