THE LOW INCIDENCE OF ADRENAL ALTERATIONS IN BLACK RATS ON FILTRATE FACTOR DEFICIENT DIETS

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Abstract
Of five groups of black rats, totaling 284 animals, on a diet deficient in the nitrate factors of vit. B, 2 groups received supplements of 0.2 mg. and 1 mg. of nicotinic acid daily, 1 received 2 mgs. of choline daily and the last 1 mg. of nicotinic acid and 2 mgs. of choline. Of the controls and those in group 1, half of the rats were given a low salt intake; all the others received 1% NaCl soln. ad lib. All the animals developed graying fur; this was most severe in rats on the low salt intake and in rats receiving nicotinic acid daily. Dermatitis, alopecia, and superficial hemorrhages of the skin occurred to a varying degree in all groups. The most common change observed in the adrenal cortex was lipid depletion, but this did not occur in more than 50% of the animals in any group; in the controls this was the only significant pathological change. Addition of nicotinic acid slightly increased the incidence of necrosis of the adrenal cortex; when both nicotinic acid and choline were added the incidence of necrosis remained the same but the incidence of atrophy increased. When only choline was added to the diet, the adrenal change consisted of lipid depletion with a very small incidence of atrophy, necrosis, and hemorrhage.