Role of Vitamin a in Regulating Fertility and Reproductive Functions in Albino Mice A Comprehensive Review

Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient required for growth, differentiation, and reproduction in mammals. Its biologically active metabolite, retinoic acid RA , regulates gene expression through nuclear receptors and plays a pivotal role in reproductive physiology. Albino mice, widely used as experimental models, have provided key insights into how vitamin A influences fertility. In males, RA is indispensable for the initiation of spermatogonial differentiation and meiotic entry through the induction of the Stra8 gene. Vitamin A deficiency VAD leads to testicular degeneration, arrest of spermatogenesis, reduced sperm count and motility, and ultimately infertility effects that can be reversed with retinol or RA supplementation. In females, vitamin A is critical for ovarian function, uterine epithelial stromal identity, implantation, and embryonic development. VAD in albino mice disrupts estrous cyclicity, causes implantation failure and early embryonic resorptions, while excessive intake is teratogenic and compromises fertility despite ovulation. Thus, both deficiency and excess of vitamin A exert profound effects, indicating a narrow optimal range necessary for reproductive success. This review synthesizes available evidence on vitamin A metabolism, its mechanisms of action, and experimental findings in albino mice, highlighting its dual role as an essential factor and potential risk in reproductive health. Anjali Rani | Ashok Kumar Thakur "Role of Vitamin a in Regulating Fertility and Reproductive Functions in Albino Mice: A Comprehensive Review" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-9 | Issue-5 , October 2025, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd97418.pdf Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/biological-science/zoology/97418/role-of-vitamin-a-in-regulating-fertility-and-reproductive-functions-in-albino-mice-a-comprehensive-review/anjali-rani