Reproduction and Lactation on Simplified Diets.

Abstract

Guest, Nelson, Parks, and Fulmer 1 showed that on certain synthetic diets containing various grains as the sole source of vitamins B and G growth and reproduction in the rat were normal but mammary function was decidedly abnormal. Daniels and Hutton 2 showed that successful reproduction and lactation may be obtained on a milk and soy bean diet which they attributed to the peculiar inorganic complex present in the soy bean. This work was undertaken to determine the effect of different levels of soy bean as the sole source of vitamins B and G on reproduction and lactation and the effect of various animal organs on the above functions.

Rats grow at a normal rate with 10, 20, 40, and 73.3% of either Manchu, Sable, or Virginia soy beans as the sole source of vitamins B and G. Reproduction was normal on the lower levels of the 3 different soy beans but on the higher levels reproduction slowed down. Satisfactory lactation was not obtained on any level of the 3 beans investigated.

Lung and spleen from hogs and beef thymus did not improve the lactation of rats on 15% of Virginia soy beans as the sole source of vitamins B and G. Hog pancreas and pancreas, brain, and heart from cattle improved somewhat the lactation observed on 15% of Virginia soy bean. Very marked improvement in lactation resulted on supplementing the 15% Virginia soy bean ration with liver from hogs and cattle and with hog kidney. The young on the liver and kidney showed a superior rate of growth. The lactating factor was destroyed in liver at 120°C. Ether extract of liver shows little or no lactating properties but the residue does.

Six to 10 females and 3 to 4 males were employed in each experiment on soy beans. Four to 10 pregnant females were used in the experiments on various animal organs.