Vitamins and minerals: hepatic storage of vitamin A: practice question

A Biochemistry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Biochemistry · Vitamins and minerals: hepatic storage of vitamin A

Sample item

A man who has taken very large doses of vitamin A for several years develops hepatomegaly, and biopsy shows perisinusoidal fibrosis with fat-laden cells. Which cells normally store the retinyl esters?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Hepatic stellate cells

Most body retinol is stored as retinyl ester in lipid droplets of hepatic stellate (Ito) cells in the space of Disse. Chronic excess activates these cells to produce collagen, causing fibrosis. This is why hypervitaminosis A can cause cirrhosis.

Option by option

  • A. Sinusoidal endothelial cells

    Endothelial cells line the sinusoids and are not the main store.

  • B. Hepatic stellate cells (correct)

    Correct. Stellate cells hold the vitamin A stores and drive fibrosis when overloaded.

  • C. Bile duct epithelial cells

    Cholangiocytes line the bile ducts and do not store vitamin A.

  • D. Kupffer cells

    Kupffer cells are the resident macrophages and not the vitamin store.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Biochemistry question

What is the answer to this Biochemistry question?

The best answer is B, Hepatic stellate cells. Most body retinol is stored as retinyl ester in lipid droplets of hepatic stellate (Ito) cells in the space of Disse.

Why is "Sinusoidal endothelial cells" not the answer?

Endothelial cells line the sinusoids and are not the main store.

Why is "Bile duct epithelial cells" not the answer?

Cholangiocytes line the bile ducts and do not store vitamin A.

Why is "Kupffer cells" not the answer?

Kupffer cells are the resident macrophages and not the vitamin store.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Vitamins and minerals: hepatic storage of vitamin A in Biochemistry. Chronic excess activates these cells to produce collagen, causing fibrosis. This is why hypervitaminosis A can cause cirrhosis.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Vitamins and minerals: hepatic storage of vitamin A?

Build one table of enzyme deficiency, disease, inheritance and key finding, then revise it by spaced recall. Then use the flashcards and the other Biochemistry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.