Counteraction of Cortisone Inhibition of Body, Hair and Thymus Growth by Vitamin B12 and Aureomycin.

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Abstract
Cortisone was injd. in daily doses of 0.5 mg. for 30 days into 130 immature male albino rats on a vit. B12-deficient diet. The depressions of body, hair and thymus growth which resulted were completely or partially prevented by incorporating 200 [mu]g. of vit. B12/kg. of ration or 0.005% of aureomycin. Vit. B12 was more effective in these respects than aureomycin, and the combination of the two substances was more effective than either alone. The favorable actions of the vitamin and antibiotic were accompanied by an increase in food consumption and greater efficiency in converting food into body wt. gains. It is concluded that when large doses of cortisone are injd. into rats on a vit. B12-deficient diet, the deficiency becomes aggravated and thus accounts at least in part for the observed inhibitions of body and hair growth. The mechanisms by which vit. B12 and aureomycin protect the thymus against cortisone action are as yet unknown.