THE EFFECT OF A LYSINE DEFICIENT DIET ON THE ESTROUS CYCLE

Abstract

A diet containing 18% of gliadin as the chief source of protein but otherwise adequate for growth causes cessation of the oestrus cycle in the rat. Normal oestrus cycles are resumed when 3% of hexone bases or 0.6% of d-lysine dihydrochloride are added to the diet. Deficiency of lysine is evidently responsible for the aberration in the sexual behavior. A slight weight increment occurs concomitantly with cessation of the oestrus cycle, indicating that the demands for growth are satisfied before those incident to the oestrus cycle.