Vitamin A deficiency and sensory function
Biesalski, H.K.; Wellner, U.; Stofft, E.; Bässler, K.H.
Acta Vitaminologica et Enzymologica 7(Suppl): 45-54
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-8924 PMID: 3916045 Document Number: 244340
Changes in the morphology of the tongue, olfactory epithelia, trachea and inner ear were studied by electron microscopy in guineapigs given a diet free from vitamin A for 90 days. Papillae of the tongue were shorter than in controls and had many squamous cells covering the whole epithelium. Taste buds were not detectable beneath the dense layer of squamous cells which may explain the loss in taste sensitivity reported in vitamin A deficiency. In the olfactory and respiratory epithelia there was atrophy and focal degeneration of ciliae. In the ear there was vacuolization of the outer hair cells indicating that the tight junction of outer hair cells may be affected allowing intermixing of inner ear fluids.