Metabolism of dehydroretinyl ester in White Leghorn chicks.

1. The metabolism of dehydroretinyl ester has been studied in vitamin-A-deficient white leghorn chicks. Dehydroretinyl ester was metabolized to 3-hydroxyretinol diester, 3-hydroxyanhydroretinol and rehydrovitamin A2 which were isolated from the intestines and livers of chicks. 2. The metabolism of 3-hydroxyretinol diester and 3-hydroxyanhydroretinol, which were immediate metabolites of dehydroretinol, was studied in chicks. 3. Retinol was not detected in these experiments.