Experimental Nutritional Megaloblastic Anemia and Scurvy in the Monkey

Abstract

Megaloblastic anemia developed in monkeys on a diet free from ascorbic acid and only a small amt. of folic acid. Addition of folic acid prevented megaloblastosis, but a normoblastic anemia developed. As the scurvy progressed, hemoglobin and plasma iron decreased and erythrocyte protoporphyrin and coproporphyrin increased. Fecal urobilinogen increased with clinical signs of hemorrhage. No significant change was noted in urinary urobilinogen and coproporphyrin or fecal coproporphyrin and protoporphyrin. In the monkey the requirements for folic acid and iron are apparently increased in scurvy.