Effect of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide on food intake, growth, and mammary gland development in rats.

Abstract

Food intake and growth were depressed during the first week of feeding the anticarcinogenic retinoid N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (HPR) at a concentration of 782 mg/kg diet to female rats. Food intake was normalized thereafter, but body weight did not reach that of control animals until 40 days later. The use of a pair-fed group demonstrated that weight depression in HPR fed animals was entirely due to reduced food intake. Mammary glands from HPR-fed animals showed decreased ductal branching and decreased end bud proliferation relative to control glands. Total hepatic retinol and retinol concentration were lower (P less than 0.05) for HPR fed animals than for controls. The effects of HPR on mammary development and retinol storage were attributable to dietary HPR per se. HPR was detected in mammary gland and body fat at concentrations of 27 and 53.7 nmol/g, respectively.