THE UTILIZATION OF PARENTERALLY ADMINISTERED HORSE SERUM BY THE RAT

Abstract

2 groups of rats with equal avg. body wt. were given a 30% dextrose soln. containing salt and the B vits. Over a period of 22 days one group was given daily 5 cc of horse serum intraperit. and the other the same quantity of salt soln. At the end of this period the protein of the whole body and of various organs and tissues was detd. The horse serum injected rats contained 5.2 g. more protein per rat than the XaCl injected rats which represents a sparing of 21%; of their total body protein. The difference in the distr. of protein (organ protein per 100 g. total protein) in the 2 groups was similar to the difference found when protein fed rats are compared with rats given no protein. A foreign protein was evidently utilized in the body for protein anabolism without digestion within the gastro-intestinal tract.