The Mineral Composition of the Albino Rat as Affected by Chloride Deficiency

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Abstract
In a 70-day paired feeding experiment comparative data on the metabolism of chloride, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus were secured by body analysis of rats on a synthetic diet of normal chloride content (0.28%) and animals on a similar diet in which the chlorides of the salt mixture were replaced by equivalent quantities of corresponding bicarbonates. The chloride deficient ration contained 0.02% chloride and 0.49% bicarbonate. The bicarbonate being considered innocuous, the results obtained were attributed to the deficiency of dietary chloride. In comparison with the rats receiving the normal chloride ration, the contents of the bodies of the rats receiving the chloride deficient ration were less in chloride, sodium, and potassium and greater in calcium and phosphorus; the contents of the body gain were less in chloride, sodium, and potassium, and greater in calcium and phosphorus; and the concentration of chloride, sodium and potassium was less in the total water and water gain without disturbance of the ratio of sodium to potassium. The adjustments of the female rats to a restricted intake of chloride were similar to but not as large as those of the male rats. The percentage retention of the intake of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium was lower for the chloride deficient rats than for the normal controls; while the percentage retention of chloride was much higher for the chloride deficient rats than for the controls.