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. 1967 Feb;102(2):600–605. doi: 10.1042/bj1020600

Pathways of retinol and retinoic acid metabolism in the rat

Anita B Roberts 1, H F DeLuca 1
PMCID: PMC1270285  PMID: 6029616

Abstract

1. The metabolism of retinoic acid and retinyl acetate labelled with 14C in various positions was studied after intravenous injection of physiological amounts of these compounds into retinol-deficient rats. 2. Analysis of the resultant radio-activity in the urine, carbon dioxide and faeces led to a postulation of the existence of three major pathways for the metabolism of these two compounds. 3. Evidence is presented that retinoic acid and retinol are metabolized by either the same or at least similar pathways and that retinol becomes oxidized to the carboxyl state before any degradation of the isoprenoid side chain occurs. 4. It is not possible to decide from these data whether retinoic acid is an intermediate in the retinol pathway. 5. Possible sites for the regulation of retinol metabolism are discussed.

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Selected References

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