Abstract
In disagreement with reports of Verzár and his collaborators, results obtained by us 1 on young rats indicate that vitamin E has a biological action different from that of gonadotropic anterior pituitary hormone and prolan A. In a different type of test we have used mature female rats which were raised on vitamin E-free diet and have tested the capacity of gonadotropic pituitary hormone and prolan A to induce fertility in them as does vitamin E.
These rats, raised on vitamin E-free diet and all more than 3 months old, were divided (May 30) into 2 groups (I and II); both groups being left on vitamin E-free diet. Group I received twice a week 0.5 cc. of wheat-germ extracts as a source of vitamin E. Since the rats showed no changes this dose was increased (August 3) to 6 x 0.5 cc. weekly. Even this quantity seemed too small and the dose was again increased (August 19) to 6 x 1.0 cc. weekly for 3 animals (Nos. 122, 123 and 135). A pregnant female (No. 130) was left on the previous dose (6 x 0.5 cc.) of vitamin E extract and this animal on August 27 gave birth to 6 healthy young. Nos. 122, 124 and 135 also gave healthy litters of average size, but even at this dose No. 123 resorbed her fetuses.
The rats of group II (on vitamin E-free diet and serving as control for group I) did not produce any young from May 30 to August 9. During this period these rats increased in weight and were fertilized but the fetuses died and were resorbed. From August 9 three animals received (1.0 cc. daily) pituitary gland hormone and the other 3 the same quantity of prolan A (from urine). Both preparations had very high gonadotropic activity as shown by tests on infantile female rats. On August 13 administration of both preparations was temporarily discontinued; from August 20 to September 12 the animals again received 1.0 cc. daily of pituitary hormone and prolan A.
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