THE EFFECTS OF PANTOTHENIC ACID DEFICIENCY ON THE SECRETION OF CORTICOSTEROIDS BY THE ALBINO RAT1

Abstract

Pantothenic acid deficiency has been produced in mature rats by feeding a diet free of pantothenic acid and supplemented with [image] -methylpantothenic acid (calcium salt). Adrenal venous blood was collected by cannulation of the left renal vein and the production of individual steroids of normal and deficient rats was estimated. The production of corticosterone, the predominant corticosteroid from the rat adrenal, was significantly reduced by the vitamin deficiency. The reduction was not due to a non-specific, toxic effect of [omega] -methyl-pantothenate. The results indicate that pantothenic acid is specifically required for normal corticosteroid production by the adrenal of the albino rat.