660 PANTOTHENIC ACID 



studies of Groody and Groody gained only 151 g. in 66 days, showing that 

 other growth factors were lacking also. 



Histological study of the tissue of pantothenic acid-deficient chicks, as 

 reported by Phillips and EngeP^^ and Shaw and Phillips, ^^^ showed lesions 

 in the spinal cord characterized by myelin degeneration of myelinated fibers 

 distributed widely throughout the white matter but chiefly in the lateral 

 and anterior columns and extending to all segments of the cord. Axon de- 

 generation also occurred to some extent. The spinal cord alone and not the 

 peripheral nerves seemed to be involved. ^^^ Thymus involution and, oc- 

 casionally, liver damage were also seen. Coates et al}^^ have also reported 

 liver damage ("dark and patchy livers") in pantothenic acid-deficient 

 chicks. 



Ram^^ found myelin degeneration in the motor apparatus of the brain 

 in addition to the spinal cord. Ram also found eroded gizzard lining, slightly 

 thickened proventriculus, and distended gall bladder. It is questionable 

 whether or not these symptoms are specific, since the diet of Ram contained 

 only 10 7 each of added biotin and folic acid per 100 g. of diet, and no 

 weight values of the positive control birds were given for proper evaluation 

 of the results. 



That hens also require pantothenic acid was suggested by Bauernfeind 

 and Norris in 1939i"' "^ and later confirmed by Gillis et at. (1942),ii« who 

 first used crystalline pantothenic acid. Deficient hens, as demonstrated 

 by more recent work, may not have the typical dermatitis symptoms seen 

 in the chick, but in severe cases they show loss of weight, possible drop in 

 egg production, poor hatchability of eggs (due to death of the 18 to 21- 

 day-old embryo), poor qualtity of down on the embryo, and loss of via- 

 bility and growth of progeny, as indicated chiefly by the work of Gillis et 



A deficiency in the hen also results in a lowering of the pantothenic acid ' 

 content of the egg,^^''' ^-^^ ^^^ the blood, and the tissues.^^"- ^^^^ ^" Low panto- j 

 thenic acid content of eggs is associated with lowered amounts in hatched ! 

 chicks.^^^ Higher than normal pantothenic acid content of eggs may give ' 



15 P. H. Phillips and R. W. Engel, J. Nutrition 18, 227 (1939). 



16 J. H. Shaw and P. H. Phillips, /. Nutrition 29, 107 (1945). 



" J. C. Bauernfeind and L. C. Norris, Science 89, 416 (1939). | 



18 J. C. Bauernfeind and L. C. Norris, /. Nutrition 18, 579 (1939). 



19 M. B. Gillis, G. F. Heuser and L. C. Norris, /. Nutrition 23, 153 (1942). ' 



20 M. B. Gillis, G. F. Heuser, and L. C. Norris, /. Nutrition 35, 351 (1948). 



21 M. B. Gillis, G. F. Heuser, and L. C. Norris, /. Nutrition 26, 285 (1943). 



22 E. E. Snell, E. Aline, J. R. Couch, and P. B. Pearson, J. Nutrition 21, 201 (1941). 



23 P. B. Pearson, V. H. Melass, and R. M. Sherwood, Arch. Biochem. 7, 353 (1945). 



24 P. B. Pearson, V. H. Melass, and R. M. Sherwood, /. Nutrition 32, 187 (1946). 



25 P. B. Pearson and V. H. Melass, Federation Proc. 5, 237 (1946). 



