Elaine P. Ralli

Relation of Pantothenic Acid to Adrenal Cortical Function

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the effects of pantothenic acid on adrenal function. Pantothenic acid is widely distributed in both plant and animal cells, occurring both in the free and conjugated form. Pantothenic acid will affect both the structure and the function of the adrenal cortex. Changes in adrenocortical function are suggested by the decrease in adrenal cholesterol concentration in pantothenate deficiency. An additional evidence of impaired adrenocortical function in pantothenate deficiency is provided by the abnormal response of animals to various types of stress stimuli. The effects of pantothenate deficiency on the metabolism of tissues other than the adrenal cortex may contribute to the abnormal responses elicited by stress. Adding large amounts of calcium pantothenate to the diet will modify some of the responses of intact and adrenalectomized rats and of normal human subjects to certain types of stress. The physiological changes associated with the level of pantothenic acid in the diet reflect the critical role of pantothenic acid, as part of coenzyme A, in the intermediary metabolism of all cells, particularly those of the adrenal cortex.

Fasting blood carotene level in normal and diabetic individuals.

In the course of a study on the effect of the oral administration of carotene on the blood carotene of normal and diabetic individuals, we investigated the fasting blood carotene level in these 2 groups. The number of figures available on this subject are still somewhat limited, and are mostly single observations taken at random. 1 , 2 , 3 Rabinowitch 4 in a study of carotinemia in diabetes does not report the figures for blood carotene as mg. % but in units, so that the actual figures are difficult to compare with those of other observers. The diabetic patients studied were on a known diet of carbohydrate, protein and fat. The normals were on a mixed diet from which carrots were omitted, as was the case in the diabetic diets. Fasting bloods were taken. The serum carotene was estimated by the method of White and Gordon 2 and is reported in mg. %. Blood cholesterols were done by the Bloor colorimetric method. 5 Nine normals were observed (Table I) and 19 diabetics (Table II). At least 3 determinations were done on each patient. In all; 35 observations were made on normals and 83 on diabetics. The results on the normals analyzed according to Dunn 6 show the average fasting normal serum carotene to be 0.109 mg. % with a standard deviation of ±0.104. The limits then would be 0.213 mg. % and 0.005 mg. %. All of our observations fell within these limits so that the figures may be considered significant. In the diabetics the average fasting serum carotene was 0.262 mg. % with a standard deviation of ±.112. The limits are then 0.374 and 0.150 mg. %. Seventy-four percent of the figures fall within the average ± the standard deviation. Ninety-five percent fall within twice and 99% within 3 times the standard deviation.

An Excretory Test for Vitamin C Deficiency and Subnutrition

Summary 1. The 3-hour urinary excretion of vitamin C before and after an intravenous test dose of 100 mg. of ascorbic acid was studied in a group of 12 normal adults on their usual diet which was adequate in vitamin C, in 3 normal adults on diets low in vitamin C and in 13 cases of scurvy. 2. The 3-hour and 21-hour excretion was studied in the same group after an intravenous test dose of 100 mg. of ascorbic acid. 3. Following the test dose the normal subjects excreted an average of more than 40% of the injected vitamin within 3 hours; the subnutrition cases an average of 11% and the scurvy group an average of 2.6%. 4. These observations support the fact that the 3-hour urinary excretion of vitamin C following an intravenous dose of 100 mg. of ascorbic acid will serve as an index of vitamin C deficiency or subnutrition.

Influence of adrenalectomy and gonadectomy on capacity of rats to excrete an acid load.

Summary Excretion of ammonia and of titrable acid after an acid load has been measured in intact male and female rats and in male and female rats after adrenalectomy and after adrenalectomy plus gonadectomy. After adrenalectomy, female rats excreted significantly more ammonia and more titrable acid than did males. When both the adrenals and the gonads were removed, the females excreted more ammonia than did the males, but there was no significant difference in the excretion of titrable acid between the males and the females. The adrenalectomized-gonadectomized rats were treated with either progesterone or testosterone and the capacity to handle an acid load measured. The excretion of both ammonia and titrable acid was approximately the same for both males and females after therapy with either hormone.

Effect of pantothenate deficiency on synthesis of adrenal cholesterol following stress.

Summary The adrenal cholesterol of pantothenate deficient rats was significantly depressed compared to that of control animals on a normal diet. After the stress of unilateral adrenalectomy, the cholesterol content of the remaining adrenal decreased immediately in both diet groups. By 24 hours after unilateral adrenalectomy, the adrenal cholesterol of the normal rats had returned to its initial value; in the deficient rats adrenal cholesterol remained depressed up to 7 days after the stress. The data are interpreted as evidence that the synthesis of adrenal cholesterol is decreased in pantothenate deficiency.

Relation of pantothenic acid to white blood cell response of rats following stress.

Summary The responses of white blood cells and lymphocytes following swimming and following ACTH were compared in rats on a complete diet, in rats on a pantothenic acid deficient diet, and following swimming only in rats recovering from a period of pantothenic acid deficiency. A typical lymphopenia occurred 2 hours after either swimming or ACTH in rats on the complete diet. This response was partially abolished following either swimming or ACTH in the rats on the pantothenate deficient diet. In rats recovering from pantothenate deficiency, there was an increase in lymphocytes 2 hours after swimming followed by a decrease at 4 hours. These results are interpreted as a reflection of the changes in the adrenal cortex induced by pantothenic acid deficiency.

Simplified technic for partial hepatectomy in rats with fatty livers.

Summary A method is described for partial hepatectomy in the rat which is applicable to animals with fatty livers. It was found that in rats with enlarged livers, due to fatty infiltration, the relation of the weights of the various lobes to one another and to the total liver weight was similar to that in normal rats. Apparently, the individual lobes maintain their relationship in spite of fatty infiltration.

Blood Cholesterol in Dogs on an A Deficient Diet

Conclusions Observations are reported on the level of the blood cholesterol in 4 dogs while on A deficient diet. There is a rise in the blood cholesterol at the time when the animals developed the symptoms of A deficiency. In the young dogs this was maintained at a higher level than in the 2 older dogs. The feeding of vitamin A or its precursor caused a drop in the blood cholesterol rose. While the amount of the vitamin was adequate the blood cholesterol remained at the normal level. These observations tend to substantiate the suggestion of other 2 , 3 investigators that the metabolism of cholesterol is affected by the amount of vitamin A in the body.

Effect of hypophysectomy on pigmentation and ascorbic acid excretion in black rats.

Summary Pigmentation was observed in black rats following hypophysectomy, similar to the pigmentation occurring in black rats following adrenalectomy. The adrenals of the hypophysectomized rats were smaller than normal, with atrophic cortices. Excretion of ascorbic acid decreased to low levels following hypophysectomy. The increase in pigmentation is believed to be related to the derangement of the steroid hormones of the adrenal cortex of the hypophysectomized rat.

Nutritional disturbances associated with diabetes mellitus.

The nutritional disturbances associated with diabetes mellitus have been controlled to a considerable extent by the use of insulin, but the nature of the disease is such that normal metabolic pathways may be interrupted readily, with a breakdown in utilization of the major foodstuffs.The diabetic diet should supply the substances for which the demand is increased, and should contain liberal amounts of qualitatively adequate protein. Dietary supplementation with essential nutrients, such as the various vitamin fractions, is important. The diet should be as reasonable as is consistent with good care. Calorie intake should be adjusted to age and occupation.