THE VALUE OF A HIGH PROTEIN DIET IN THE PREVENTION OF ANEMIA IN HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED ADULT FEMALE RATS BY MEANS OF THYROXINE AND ANDROGEN THERAPY1

Abstract

To determine the value of a high protein diet in treatment of anemia in hypophysectomized rats with thyroxine and androgen, the blood picture of 4 groups of adult female rats of the Wistar strain were studied: (1) normal controls; (2) hypophysectomized only; (3) hypophysectomized followed by daily subcut. injections of 0.005 mg of thyroxine and 1.0 mg of testosterone propionate; and (4) hypophysectomized followed by a high protein diet in addition to the same doses of hormones as were given to group 3. In untreated normal control rats, on the 50th day and last of the experiment, erythrocyte count was 8.63 million cells per cubic millimeter, hematocrit reading 44.4%, and hemoglobin level 15.7 g/100cc of blood. In hypophysectomized rats, 50 days after hypophysectomy, erythrocyte count was 7.23 million ceils per cubic millimeter, hematocrit 35.5%, and hemoglobin of 12.6 g per 100 cc of blood. The hypophysectomized rats which received daily injections of thyroxine and testosterone propionate for 50 days showed no anemia; the erythrocyte count was 8.83 million cells per cubic millimeter, the hematocrit was 43.2%, and the hemoglobin was 15.6 g per 100 cc. Treatment of hypophysectomized. rats with a high protein diet for 50 days, in addition to the thyroxine and testosterone propionate, induced a rise in the erythrocyte count to 9.68 million cells per cubic millimeter, a rise in hematocrit to 47.6%, and a rise in hemoglobin to 17.0 g per 100 cc.