Abstract
Summary
The leg or hock abnormality of zinc-deficient chicks fed isolated soybean protein-based diets has previously been shown to be largely prevented by any of the following supplements: zinc, histidine, histamine, or any of several antiarthritic agents (aspirin, cortisone, phenylbutazone or indomethacin). Only zinc corrected all signs of deficiency while the other agents alleviated only the leg deformity. To better understand the mechanisms involved, the present experiments tested the effects on the leg abnormality of zinc-deficient chicks of certain vasoactive agents, compounds affecting histamine metabolism, certain vitamins required for normal hock development, and certain additional drugs which are known to influence experimental or human arthritis. Zinc, histamine, and chloro-quine, an antiarthritic agent, were shown to alleviate the hock abnormality. The condition was not influenced by the dietary addition of the other vasoactive amines, serotonin, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, or by two vitamins required for normal hock development, niacin and p-aminobenzoic acid. Likewise, dietary addition of pyridoxine or injection of heparin, agents which could influence histamine metabolism, was without effect. The injection of gold sodium thiosulfate, in contrast to all other antiarthritic agents tested to date, was without effect. The injection of mechlorethamine, an immunosuppressive agent, or statolon, an antiviral agent, had only slight and questionable beneficial effects.
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