Effect of pantothenic acid on growth and blood picture in the rat.

Animals. The 108 rats used in these experiments were of the Lister Institute blackand-white stock maintained at Queen Elizabeth College. They were weaned at 23 days and taken for experiment either at weaning, weighing 4-50 g in series C, and C,, or 7 days after weaning, weighing 55-80 g in series C15. In the first series, C,, the animals were deprived of pantothenic acid for 2 weeks and then dosed for 4 weeks. In the two subsequent series doses were given from the beginning of the tests, for 7 weeks in series C,, and for 10 weeks or longer in series C15. In series C,, a further group of undosed rats was maintained for 7-11 weeks and then given a small dose of pantothenic acid for 4 weeks. The changes in pigmentation and condition of the fur and other signs of pantothenic-acid deprivation were noted throughout the study. Diets. The basal diet in all experiments consisted of casein (Genatosan Ltd, Loughborough, England, vitamin-low) 20, sucrose 60, arachis oil 12, lard 3 and salt mixture 5 parts. Vitamins A and D were given as Adexolin (Glaxo Laboratories Ltd) in a dose of 120 i.u. vitamin A and 20 i.u. vitamin D weekly. Vitamin E was given as a weekly dose of I mg cr-tocopheryl acetate in arachis oil and vitamin B,, as a weekly dose of I pg of Cytamen (Glaxo Laboratories Ltd) from an Agla micrometer syringe. The B-vitamins were given as a solution containing in a daily dose of I ml.: