Abstract
Summary
Norethynodrel and mestranol fed to 11-week-old female rats on a physiological level reduced food consumption and body weight gain. The withdrawal of the oral steroids for 42 days did not accelerate the growth rates of the treated rats when they had been previously fed the steroids for 28 or 180 days. Treatment with steroids for a short or long period did not affect digestibility of protein, fat, sodium, or potassium. However, retention of dietary nitrogen was higher for control rats than for treated rats after 22 days of steroid treatment (p <0.05). At this time the treated rats retained significantly more dietary sodium than the control rats (p <0.05). After feeding the oral steroids for 178 days, the treated rats retained more dietary nitrogen than did the control rats (p <0.01). No statistically significant effect on sodium retention was observed at this time. Thus, the effects caused by the oral steroids on the retention of this mineral as well as nitrogen was temporary in nature. The oral steroids did not significantly alter the retention of dietary potassium whether the treatment was for short or long time. Concomitant with the increased retention of sodium measured after 22 days of treatment was an increased proportion of water in the carcasses of treated rats compared to the control rats. Again, this effect disappeared after 178 days of treatment or after refeeding of control diet subsequent to 22 or 180 days of treatment. Furthermore, there was no difference in body moisture concentration when it was expressed as a percentage of lean body masses.
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