[Adrenal catecholamines and their metabolism in the vitamin A deficient rat].

The adrenal catecholamines (norepinephrine and epinephrine) and their conversion enzymes (PNMT, COMT) were comparatively investigated in: (1) rats fed a diet deprived of vitamin A, inducing a rapid and severe deficiency; (2) rats fed another diet leading to a more progressive deficiency (rats supplemented with retinol served as controls for these two types of diet), and (3) rats fed a whole industrial diet. The first diet induced a strong accumulation of adrenal catecholamines and increased the activity of PNMT and COMT. The second diet only increased the adrenal content of norepinephrine and epinephrine.