In vivo and in vitro Study of the Effects of Vitamin A Deficiency on Rat Third Molar Development

Abstract

We have examined the effect of in vivo vitamin A status on subsequent rat third molar formation and mineralization in an in vitro organ culture system. Vitamin A deficiency imposed during an eight-day in vitro period caused effects very similar to those of vitamin A deficiency imposed on rats in vivo. Analysis of the data also demonstrates that retinoic acid is capable of reversing the interference in mineralization of third molars induced by vitamin A deficiency in the organ culture system.