SKELETAL CHANGES IN THE RAT INDUCED BY A RATION EXTREMELY POOR IN INORGANIC SALTS

Abstract

In rapidly growing c? rats restricted to an exptl. ration extremely poor in salts, increase in body wt. ceased, length and \vt. of the femur, humerus, fibula and radius continued to increase slowly; the moisture of the bone increased, the ash decreased and a marked distortion of the A/R [ash/ fat-free organic residue] ratio was established. Even after prolonged realimentation with an adequate diet, the % of moisture and ash and the dimensions of the bone failed to attain values normal for the age. Breaking strength appeared to be more closely correlated with organic pattern as reflected in the size of the bone than with the proportion of inorganic salts.