Bone Development in the Albino Rat on a Low Manganese Diet

Abstract

We have not been able to demonstrate any abnormal tibia development in the albino rat raised on a diet low in manganese, provided the rat is normal at 21 days of age. In this respect the rat differs from the chick, at least in being much less sensitive to a low manganese diet. Only 2 cases of abnormal tibias have appeared in a total of 16 rats, born of females reared on a low manganese diet. Our limited data on rats from females reared on a low manganese diet suggest that the growth of the female is impaired, while that of the male is not.