[Effects of administration of moderate doses of etretinate (RO 10-9359) on rats deficient in vitamin A].

Abstract

Etretinate (RO 10-9359) is a synthetic retinoid used instead of Vitamin A--toxic in large dose--during treatment of some skin diseases. In this work biological properties of Etretinate were studied by administration of this drug (2 mg/kg/day) in rats in a vitamin A-deficient state. Body growth, some seric parameters and some tissue enzymatic activities were studied. Results of this restitution experiment show that Etretinate corrects all parameters affected by vitamin A-deficiency testicular growth excepted. So Etretinate exhibits properties similar to that of retinoic acid.