Different responses of the submandibular salivary glands and liver of rats subjected to excess vitamin A: study on glycogen metabolism.

The effect of excess vitamin A on glycogen metabolism in the submandibular salivary gland, as compared to that in liver was studied. Contrary to what has been previously reported for the liver, either using from 1 to 6 X 15 000 or 2 X 30 000 U.I. vitamin A, the glycogen content in the submandibular salivary gland was lower in the hypervitaminotic rats. The total phosphorylase activity was reduced in the groups receiving lower vitamin A doses.