Paralysis in Old Age in Rats on a Diet Deficient in Vitamin E. ∗

Abstract

On January 3, 1935, a group of rats, just weaned, were put on a highly purified fat-free basal diet, 550-B. 1 Supplements consisted of British Drug House vitamin A, viosterol, and yeast from which practically all fat had been removed with alcohol and ether. This yeast proved to be slightly deficient in vitamin B₁ (antineuritic) and was supplemented with 10 gammas daily of crystalline B₁. Fat deficiency symptoms soon developed and were cured by the daily addition of 5 drops of linseed oil. The only factor which was known to be low or absent was vitamin E. The animals (all females) grew moderately well, and at the end of one year had an average weight of 172 gm. During the second year of life 3 of the 8 animals died from unknown causes. The survivors maintained their weight well in spite of the relatively high purity diet. In September, 1936, when approximately 22 months old, all 5 rats became paralyzed with loss of use of their hind limbs. The average weight for the group was 168 gm. Only one rat had lost weight; the rest were at the maximum for their entire life. The most striking fact was the incidence of paralysis at exactly the same age in all rats.

Efforts to effect a cure were made by increasing the yeast, the crystalline B₁, addition of Jensen's B₁ adsorbed on Fuller's earth, and addition of large doses of vitamin E. No method was successful, and in January, 1937, all rats had maintained their weights fairly well in spite of their difficulty in reaching food cups.