TREATMENT OF SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS OF RATS WITH THYMUS EXTRACT (HANSON) AND RELATED SUBSTANCES1

Abstract

The following groups of animals were employed: (a) rats from an albino colony treated for 6 generations with preparations of thymus extract prepared by Doctor Hanson; (b) rats from an albino colony treated for 5 generations with 1 mg. per day of crystalline glutathione; (c) rats from an albino colony treated for 4 generations with 1 mg. of crystalline glutathione plus 1.5 mg. of crystalline ascorbic acid; (d) rats obtained from the exptl. colony of the Wistar Institute, fed a diet recommended by the Philadelphia Institute for Medical Research and injected with preps. of thymus extract (Hanson) for 4 generations; (e) rats of the Wistar strain obtained from the Philadelphia Institute for Medical Research, fed their diet as supplied by them, and injected with 2 mg. of crystalline glutathione and 10 mg. of ascorbic acid for 5 generations. No acceleration of growth or development was observed in any of these groups of animals. Sexual maturation is retarded in rats maintained on the diet used in similar expts. by the Philadelphia Institute for Medical Research and this deficiency may be corrected by supplementing the diet with yeast and wheat germ.