Influence of Dietary Factors and the Adrenal on Hyaluronidase Spreading Reaction in the Rat.

Abstract

The intradermal spread of hyaluronidase was studied in intact, cortisone- injd. intact, sham,operated and adrenalectomized rats. A total of 185 rats were subjected to several different dietary situations which included a dog chow diet, a diet high in pantothenic acid, a diet deficient in pantothenic acid, and a diet high in vitamin B12. In the intact rats, the diet containing excessive amts. of vitamin [image] significantly decreased the spread of the hyaluronidase. The injn. of cortisone in intact rats also decreased the area of spread of the hyaluronidase. Sham operation, tested up to 3 weeks after the procecure, decreased the area of spread of the hyaluronidase. Adrenalectomy also decreased the area of spread of the hyaluronidase. This was true in ail dietary situations as compared to the intact rats on similar diets. The decreased area of spread associated with the high vitamin B12 diet in intact rats was not further significantly decreased by adrenalectomy. Results suggest that the effect of adrenalectomy on the spreading reaction of hyaluronidase in rats is a non-specific effect, due to the operative procedure.