Our previous research demonstrated that vitamin A might be related to vocal fold development. The purpose of this study was to determine whether vitamin A deficiency affects prenatal laryngeal development in rats.
Methods:
Two considerations were necessary in designing a study using a rat model: For embryonic survival, vitamin A is necessary through day 10 of gestation, and laryngeal formation occurs primarily after day 11. Thus, we created a rat model that developed vitamin A deficiency after embryonic day 11. Ten pregnant rats (5 vitamin A-deficient rats and 5 control rats) were studied. Embryos were collected at embryonic day 18.5 and analyzed histologically.
Results:
Eighteen percent of the vitamin A-deficient embryos were alive and demonstrated laryngotracheal cartilage malformation, incomplete separation of the glottis, and/or laryngoesophageal clefts.
Conclusions:
These results document the important role played by vitamin A in laryngeal development.
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