THE EXCRETION OF PANTOTHENIC ACID AND ASCORBIC ACID BY INTACT AND ADRENALECTOMIZED RATS ON DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH AND DEFICIENT IN PANTOTHENIC ACID

Abstract

introduction Prolonged survival of adrenalectomized rats receiving 1% NaCl as drinking water and a diet supplemented with at least 4 mg. of calcium pantothenate daily has previously been reported (Ralli, 1946; Dumm and Ralli, 1948). These rats appeared well, gained weight, and were capable of muscular work. In view of the findings, studies are being conducted in adrenalectomized rats to establish the role that pantothenic acid plays under these circumstances. The present report is concerned with the excretion of pantothenate and of ascorbic acid by adrenalectomized and intact rats on diets deficient in and supplemented with calcium pantothenate. experimental All rats were bred in the laboratory. To deplete the rats of pantothenic acid they were placed on a diet deficient in pantothenic acid (Ralli and Graef, 1943; Dumm and Ralli, 1948) at 30 days of age and were continued on this diet for 30 days.