June 1948.]
Abstract
111
rate in deficient beings can be raised by a provision of the vitamin in the diet. The in vitro paral-
lelism between tissues from vitamin-deficient and cyanide-poisoned pigeons, indicates lack of respira-
tory enzymesin vitamin B deficiency. Addition of vitamin B, or yeast extract raised the oxidation-
rate of beriberi tissues. Polyneuritis has but a doubtful effect on tissue-metabolism.
Riboflavin is involved in major normal oxidation processes. A lack of this constituent leads to
a complex disturbance of coenzyme functions. Riboflavin deficiency per se has no marked effect on
basal metabolism of rats. The limited in vitro study tilts in favour of the riboflavin deficiency
lowering the oxidation rate.
A diet, deficient in vitamin A or having an excess of it, does not significantly alter the metabolic
rate. A reduced oxidation rate observed in in vitro studies with most of the tissues from the vitamin
deficient rats points to the possible role of the vitamin in the oxidation of cells.
Administration of vitamin D raises the metabolic rate and in keeping with this, the muscle from
rats administered liberally with this vitamin has a higher rate of oxygen consumption in vitro. The
skin from rachitic rats has a low oxidation rate in vitro.
The major role of vitamin E has not yet been proved adequately. The vitamin is essential to
the integrity of skeletal muscle and its deficiency leads to muscle dystrophy. The vitamin deficient
rats exihibit a metabolic increase which can be lowered to the normal level by addition of wheat-
germ oil or L-tocopherol to the deficient diet. Nevertheless, there is evidence to show that the
notential metabolic increase in deficient rats is just counter-balanced by the opposite effects of a
lowered food intake. In vitro studies on the dystrophic muscles of rabbits, guinea-pigs and rats
support the view that the vitamin E deficiency increases the metabolic rate which is lowered by
addition to the medium of L-tocopherol. A recent contradiction of this view needs elucidation.
On account of the universality of their functions, as enzymes, hormones and antibodies, the
protein deficiency lacks well-defined symptoms. The metabolic effects of a protein or a single amino-
acid deficiency are not fully known. The view, that protein deficiency per se lowers the metabolic
rate is based on meagre grounds. No data are available on the in vitro metabolism of tissues from
protein deficient animals. However, it has been observed that addition of protein in any form to
most of the tissues of normal animals increases the oxidation rate.
It has been mentioned before that a low protien diet necessitates an increased oxidation of
carbohydrates and fats. The loss of energy thus incurred is a homeostatic waste.
Metabolic stimulation in most mineral deficiencies per se may also be due to homestatis. As in
a normal animal the mineral concentration in the soft tissues remains nearly constant, the deficiencies
can apparently be made up by destroying the muscles and hence there is the observed increase in
the oxidation rate.
Vitamin deficiencies in general do not affect or decrease the metabolic rate. Probably, the
vitamins can considerably be squeezed out of the tissues without destroying them and so from an
economic view point, the vitamin deficiencies need not be attended to as much of those of minerals.
(S.S.N.)
(I) MURNANE D. (1945). A preliminary report on the treatment of clinical and sub-clinical
streptococcal and staphyloccal infections of the bovine udder with penicillin. Aust. Vet. J.
21, 82
(II) MURNANE D. (1946). Second report on the treatment of clinical streptococcal and staphy-
loccal infections of the bovine udder with penicillin. Ibid. 22, 35
(I)
P ENICILLIN administered by udder infusion proved efficacious in treating 134 quarters of 60
cows in 10 commercial herds infected with streptococcal mastitis. The duration of treatment
was six months. One single dose of 100 c.c. penicillin infusion in normal saline with a concentration
of 150 units per c.c. when introduced into the udder, at low pressure just after milking, eliminated
L