Anti-Grey Hair Vitamin Deficiency in the Silver Fox

Abstract

Six young silver foxes of three litters were placed on purified diet supplemented by fish liver oil, wheat germ, riboflavin and nicotinic acid, three receiving also a yeast “filtrate factor” preparation. One of those which did not receive filtrate factor died after 26 days and the other two had lost most of their fur although they had been left on the deficient diet only 44 days. Their new fur was light grey in color. On autopsy of the fox that died and the other two on deficient diet pelted 4 months later large red-mottled thymuses were found. The three foxes which received the filtrate factor retained their fur, had no surviving thymuses and had normal dark silver pelts. These observations are similar to those previously observed in rats and dogs and point to possible interrelation of nutritional and endocrine mechanisms.