Abstract
A hemorrhagic necrosis of the adrenal cortex was frequently observed in rats used for a study of vitamin B6 deficiency in this laboratory. This abnormality was prevented when Vitab or a filtrate factor concentrate was included in the diet. Similar observations were reported by Daft and Sebrell. 1 When synthetic pantothenic acid became available it seemed desirable to investigate its relation to this adrenal pathology. While these investigations were being completed, Daft, Sebrell, Babcock, and Jukes 2 reported similar studies. The data herein presented are essentially a confirmation of the results obtained by the above workers.
The basal diet used in these studies consisted of alcohol-extracted Labco casein 18, sucrose 78, and salts No. 186 3 4%. This diet was supplemented in all experiments with adequate amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, choline, calciferol, and carotene. Pyridoxine was given in some cases from the start of the experiment and in others after severe skin lesions had developed. In one experiment butter fat was included in the basal diet at 5, 10, or 20% levels without affecting the incidence of adrenal necrosis. Other dietary supplements are listed in Table I.
Severe adrenal cortical hemorrhage and necrosis was not produced in every case where pantothenic acid was omitted from the diet. However, it was never present in the rats which received a source of natural pantothenic acid or synthetic calcium pantothenate.
The animals which presented severe necrotic changes in the adrenal cortex failed rapidly, developed a severe hemorrhagic rhinitis, and, in some cases, passed into coma before they were removed for examination. Microscopic examination was made of necropsy material consisting of sections of adrenal gland, heart, spleen, liver, kidney, thymus, lung, and the intraorbital lacrimal gland.
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