Some physiological changes in mature male albino rats maintained on diets deficient in certain B-complex vitamins

Abstract

A great deal of work has been done on characterizing the results of feeding diets deficient in vitamins of the B-complex group to rats. The most dramatic results both gross and microscopic have been noted in the immature rats. These results have become accepted as the results of vitamin deficiency in all animals of all ages. This study was carried out to determine the results of feeding mature rats diets deficient in biotin, thiamine, pyridoxine and riboflavin. Two experiments were carried out. One experiment include only one restricted control group. A second experiment included a restricted control for each experimental rat along with an ad libitum control group for comparison with the individual control groups. This helped to rule out a reduced caloric intake as the cause of histological, biochemical or gross changes. Food intake was measured for both experimental and control animals so as to control the caloric intake. Weight measurements were taken to follow weight changes due to dietary deficiencies as compared to the restricted controls. To determine if the histological changes in the immature animal are the same as in the mature animal, the testes were used as the organ of choice. To determine how active a role the vitamin plays in the overall metabolism of the intact animal the oxygen consumption was used as a measure. Qualitative estimation was made of the free amino acids to determine if the pathology noted in an organ could be related to unavailability of protein building blocks. The organ of choice for amino acid study and histological study was the testes. Paper chromatographic technique was the method used in the amino acid study..