Abstract
The high blood galactose and galacturia always found in rats on rations containing as much as 25% galactose, 1 raises the question as to the efficiency of the utilization of this sugar for muscular work. A brief study of this problem was made possible by the loan of some revolving exercise cages. The rations were those previously reported and were fed ad lib.
Littermates on the 25% galactose diet were divided between stationary and exercise cages as were control animals from the respective litters on a similar diet containing glucose in place of galactose. Exercise was entirely voluntary and the number of revolutions per week was recorded. Basal caloric requirement was calculated from body weight according to the formula of Diack 2 and caloric intake from food consumed (4.19 cal. per gram).
Growth was remarkably constant and similar for all groups, male and female, with and without exercise, and showed no difference due to type of single sugar in the diet. The calculated extra calories consumed above that required for basal expenditures was similar in the 2 ration groups (65-69% for glucose, 65-71% for galactose) and was not consistently greater for the exercise rats as might have been expected. Rats on galactose rations were just as active as those on glucose rations, the extent of exercise ranging from 5,656 to 28,538 revolutions per week for 4 weeks of the experiment. All of the galactosefed rats had developed cataract at the end of this time and the experiment with them was discontinued.
Sugar determinations indicated the same degree of galactemia (202-255 mg/100 cc) in both galactose groups regardless of exercise and a normal blood sugar (106-134 mg/100 cc) in both glucose groups.
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