Vitamin B12, a Factor in Prevention of Hydrocephalus in Infant Rats.

Abstract

Female rats which have been depleted of a protective factor by feeding a ration containing soybean meal as a source of protein produce about 28% hydro-cephalic offspring. The addition of vit. B12 concentrate to the ration prevented the abnormality but the addition of folic acid failed to prevent it. The parenteral admn. of crystalline vit. B12 during the first week of gestation prevented hydrocephalus but it was not prevented if the vitamin was given on the 14th day or later. A previous report by the authors showed that a deficiency of folic acid in mother''s diet resulted in a low incidence of hy-drocephalic offspring.