THE ADRENAL CORTEX OF THE PANTOTHENIC ACID-DEFICIENT RAT: CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM¹^,²

Abstract

IN A previous communication from this laboratory (Winters et al., 1952) preliminary evidence was presented suggesting that the pantothenate-deficient rat was in fact insufficient with respect to functions usually attributed to the C-ll oxysteroid of the adrenal cortex. This paper is concerned primarily with the disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism which these animals demonstrate. Previous studies on this problem are somewhat confusing and thus far have failed to clearly define the presence or absence of significant metabolic abnormalities related to adrenal function. In a small number of pantothenic acid-deficient rats in which alloxan diabetes had been produced, Irwin and Ralli (1948) could discern no abnormalities peculiar to the deficient group which were not seen in the controls. However, in this experiment the number of animals made diabetic was small and the diabetes produced was inconstant. Deane and McKibbin (1946) measured the blood sugar and non-protein nitrogen (NPN) in deficient and control animals during the development of the deficiency.