The Successful Treatment of Granulocytopenia and Leukopenia in Rats with Crystalline Folic Acid

Abstract

The production of granulocytopenia, and anemia in rats fed sul-fonamides in purified diets and the prevention and successful treatment of these dyscrasias by liver and liver extracts were reported previously. The constituent of liver concentrates, active for the rat, remains closely associated with a growth factor for Lactobacillus casei and Streptococcus lactis through many conc. and purification procedures. The name "folic acid" has been suggested for this factor. Within the past few months its isolation in crystalline form has been announced, and evidence has been presented for its identity with vit. Bc, an antianemia factor for the chick. It has also been announced that the folic acid isolated from liver differs from the folic acid isolated from yeast. The authors are able to announce at this time that 3 solns. of crystalline folic acid furnished to them from 2 different sources have proved active in their tests. This is interpreted as evidence for the identity of folic acid and the factor responsible for the correction of the blood dyscrasia in the rat.