Antithyrotoxic Effects of Antibiotics in Rats.

Abstract

Three crystalline antibiotics were fed to 100 male and female rats to determine whether they could counteract the retardation of growth induced by feeding thyrotoxic amounts of Protamone. On a ration adequate in vit. B12, penicillin or neomycin but not streptomycin were completely effective in overcoming the growth-inhibition, while on a ration deficient in vit. B12, all 3 antibiotics were only partially effective. On the deficient ration, the antibiotics reduced the survival rate of the hyperthyroid rats. At least part, if not all, of the effectiveness of the antibiotics in counteracting growth retardation could be attributed to the increase in food consumption and to an increased efficiency in converting food into body weight gains. The antibiotics did not alter the 74% increase in basal oxygen consumption induced by the Protamone, nor did they change the action of the latter on adrenal and spleen weight. Thymus atrophy was partially or completely prevented by the antibiotics.