In the first and second divisions of this report, the symptoms and treatment of patients with pantothenic acid deficiency were described. In this division, descriptions were made concerning the symptoms of albino rats maintained on a diet deficient in pantothenic acid as well as the symptoms caused by the administration of ω-methyl pantothenic acid, an antimetabolite of pantothenic acid, in albino rats. Then it was found that the symptoms appeared in patients and albino rats with pantothenic acid deficiency were coincident with each other in various respects as appointed out below:
1) Decreases in appetite, body weight and vitalities were observed in both patients and albino rats with pantothenic acid deficiency.
2) Both patients and albino rats with pantothenic acid deficiency were recovered very rapidly by the administration of pantothenic acid calcium.
3) Hyperaesthesia was observed in both patients and albino rats with pantothenic acid deficiency. The albino rats stood with their legs extended and walked on tiptoe in the metabolic cage made of wire netting, endeavouring to have as small part of their sole in contact with the cage as possible. Hyperaesthesia at the sole also persistedfor the longest during the recovery course in patients with pantothenic acid deficiency.
4) Existence of a latent action tremor was disclosed by means of electromyography in two patients with pantothenic acid deficiency, while some descriptions concerning lesions in the central nervous system of albino rats with deficiency were found in the literature.
5) There was no abnormality in the electrocardiogram in both patients and albino rats with pantothenic acid deficiency, indicating an important criterion to differentiate thrn from patients with ben-ben i and animals with thiamine deficiency.
6) In the serum of patients with pantothenic acid deficiency, the concentration of albumin decreased and that of β-globulin and γ-globulin increased. In the serum of albino rats with pantothenic acid deficiency, the amount of total protein and albumin decreased and α1, α2 and β-globulin increased relatively, and especially γ-globulin decreased remarkably. Therefore, it was explainable that the albino rats became feeble and were susceptible to pneumonia and other, suppurative diseases. The patients were also easy to suffer from the common cold, pulmonary tuberculosis, abortion etc.
7) The diet of patients with pantothenic acid deficiency was found to be deficient in other vitamins except vitamin C, in protein and in some of mineral salts. The patients were improved rapidly by giving an excellent food and an ample amount of vitamins. The albino rats with pantothenic acid deficiency were improved i apidly only by the administration of it.
8) An extremely severe lesions (haemorrhage and necrosis etc.) in the adrenal coltex was obserbed in albino rats at the terminal stage of pantothenic acid deficiency, while no abnormality in the function of the adrenal gland in patients with pantothenic acid deficiency.
9) No abnormality in the hair such as graying and alopetia etc. was observed in both patients and albino rats with pantothenic acid deficiency.
