Effect of hypervitaminosis A on the Harderian gland in rats. A morphologic and morphometric study.

Daily administration of 100 I.U. vitamin A/gram body weight to rats, for a period of 15 days, had the following effects: Body weight of rats treated with excess vitamin A was lower (84.0 g) than that of the controls (147.0 g). The weight of the Harderian gland was lower of rats injected with vitamin A (54.0 mg) than for the controls (87.0 mg). Histological examination of the Harderian gland in the hypervitaminotic animal showed smaller acini, lower cells, wide lumina and small nuclei when compared with the controls. These data were confirmed with morphometric techniques.