Growth-Promoting Activity of Meat Meal and Certain Tissues in Goitrogen-Fed Rats and Chicks

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Abstract
The effect of meat meal on the growth of rats fed certain goitrogenic agents has been studied. Meat meal at a dietary level of 5% stimulated growth of rats fed thiourea, thiouracil, sulfaguanidine, sulfathiazole, sulfamethazine or sulfapyridine. However, growth approached normal levels only when sulfaguanidine plus meat meal was fed. The thyroid glands of rats fed goitrogen plus meat meal tended to weigh less than those from rats fed only the goitrogen. It appears that there is little correlation between the size of the thyroid gland and growth of the rats. The growth stimulation from dietary meat meal in sulfaguanidine-fed chickens was not as pronounced as that observed in rats. One or two per cent sulfaguanidine markedly inhibited growth of chickens but thyroid glands were enlarged only slightly. Chicks fed 0.1% thiourea appeared to grow as well or better than those fed 2% sulfaguanidine but thyroid weights were approximately 16 times greater than in the latter. Assays of various tissues revealed that three of 5 different hog stomach samples were active in promoting growth of rats fed sulfaguanidine. Hog pancreas and hog duodenum and spleen were also active. Two samples of fish preparations stimulated growth but liver, kidney, brain, and hog pyloric section of the stomach were inactive.