SEX HORMONAL EFFECTS IN INCIPIENT BIOTIN DEFICIENCY

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Abstract
A mild biotin deficiency was produced in rats by feeding an otherwise synthetic and adequate diet containing dried whole egg unsupplemented by biotin. The symptoms included (1) loss of hair without true dermatitis, (2) sensitivity to touch, (3) loss of subcutaneous and visceral fat, (4) failure to store the excess liver lipid characteristic of rats fed the cholesterol-rich egg diet with a biotin supplement and (5) atretic changes in the ovary. Food intakes were well maintained on the unsupplemented diet, even after the deficiency became manifest. Biotin dosage increased the amt. of food consumed by males to a greater extent than it did that consumed by females. Alopecia developed much more rapidly and became more nearly complete in intact males than in females. Typical skin damage involved breaking off of the hair rather than disappearance of hair follicles. Biotin dosage resulted in prompt regrowth of hair. Depletion of subcut. and visceral fat occurred in both sexes. It took place more rapidly in males than females. Both sexes showed a characteristic inability to store excess liver lipid although the diet was high in cholesterol. Gonadectomy produced only slight changes in deficiency symptoms in males. In females on the unsupplemented diet, however, it resulted in increased food intakes, early wt. gains and a marked increase both in incidence and severity of biotin deficiency symptoms. Removal of the gonads did not, however, entirely eliminate the difference between males and females. Implantation of diethylstilbesterol pellets in castrate male rats fed the unsupplemented diet retarded growth, lowered food intakes and delayed or prevented deficiency symptoms to an even greater extent than was usual of intact females. On the other hand, the presence of testosterone propionate pellet implants hastened the development and increased the severity of biotin deficiency symptoms in intact and gonadecto-mized rats of both sexes. The possible relationships between the effects of the sex hormones on food intake and utilization and the need for biotin are discussed.

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