The effect of retinol deficiency on the metabolism of all-trans-retinyl acetate in rat testes.

Following intratesticular injection, the metabolism of all-trans-[11-3H] retinyl acetate was studied in rats fed a vitamin A-deficient diet supplemented either with retinyl palmitate (-A + RP) or retinoic acid (-A + RA). Analysis of testicular metabolites by HPLC at 6 h and 24 h demonstrated the hydrolysis of retinyl acetate to retinol, esterification of retinol to retinyl palmitate and the formation of trace amounts of retinoic acid and other metabolites in both groups of rats. Eight and nine metabolite peaks were present in the -A + RP and -A + RA groups, respectively. The HPLC profile was similar in both groups of rats but the amounts of metabolites differed.