THE EFFECT OF IRRADIATED ERGOSTEROL ON THYROPARATHYROIDECTOMIZED DOGS

Abstract

In a previous publication (1) it was shown that the feeding of cod liver oil to dogs for a period of 2 weeks before the removal of the thyroid and parathyroid glands greatly influenced the results of such an operation.The calcium of the blood serum fell as usual after parathyroidectomy, but the animals either did not develop tetany or the attacks were slight.The length of life of the treated dogs was greatly increased over that of the controls.Feeding of the oil after the operation was without apparent effect.More recently papers have been published by Brougher (2) and by Wade (3) in which they have reported somewhat similar results.In not all cases was tetany prevented, but it was greatly delayed and the attacks were rather mild.Greenwald and Gross (4) on the other hand were unable to substantiate these findings.Since preoperative treatment with cod liver oil appeared to exert a definite influence on the results following thyroparathyroidectomy, it was thought advisable to study the effect of activated ergosterol.Several papers have already appeared in which are reported the results of treatment with irradiated ergosterol after the removal of the parathyroids.Urechia and Popoviciu (5) administered it to six dogs subcutaneously and by mouth.Four of the dogs died in tetany.The other two recovered from the tetany and lived for about 2 months, during which time there was a slight rise in the concentration of serum calcium.Brougher (6) claims that the giving of activated ergosterol in conjunction