Maternal Nutrition and Hydrocephalus in Newborn Rats. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Female rats were supplied with an experimental diet that contained soybean oil meal as a source of protein, and a vitamin mixture that included all recognized vitamins except ascorbic acid, niacin, folic acid and B₁₂. The incidence of hydrocephalus in the young was less than 1%. When folic acid antagonist was added to this diet the incidence of hydrocephalus rose to 20%. The type of diet consumed during the pre-experi-mental period determined the amount of time that elapsed, during the experimental period, before hydrocephalus appeared in the young.