Reactions of Monkeys to Experimental Respiratory Infections. V. Hematologic Observations in Nutritional Deficiency States. ∗

Abstract

Earlier workers have reported studies on the hematology of vitamin B deficient monkeys. 1 , 2 The current observations were undertaken in an attempt to determine which, if any, of the presently recognized components of the vitamin B complex will maintain or restore specific blood cell and nutritional equilibria.

Methods. Healthy Macaca mulatta, receiving a normal diet, were isolated in individual cages and observed clinically and hematologi-cally for a control period of 2 to 3 weeks. The animals showing satisfactory equilibria were then divided into 3 groups and placed on experimental diets: (1) No. 600 1 (modified Goldberger), (2) No. 1 and (3) No. 2 (Table I). The controls have included observations on each experimental animal before it was placed on diet and on a number of monkeys of the same species and approximate age maintained on stock diet. These animals showed no hematologic changes comparable to those to be described.

Results. All of the monkeys on the experimental diets developed leucopenia. In the 4 animals on diet 600, this appeared between the 42nd and 77th days. In the 6 animals receiving diet 1 and in the 5 receiving diet 2, the time of appearance of the initial leucopenia varied between the 30th and 103rd days.

One interesting feature of the response to these diets was a “plateau” period of remarkably stabilized total white cell counts preceding the first appearance of leucopenia. The relative constancy of the total white cell counts between the 14th and 45th diet days seen in monkey No. 4 (Fig. 1) is representative. Similar well-defined periods of stability varying in duration from 24 to 100 days were seen in 3 of the 4 monkeys on diet 600, 4 of the 6 on diet 1, and 2 of the 5 on diet 2.