Abstract
Pantethine (PTSS) was examined for its effect on the growth of rats. The albino rats used were males of the Donryu strain produced at the Central Laboratories for Experimental Animals (Tokyo), 27 or 28 days of age and weighing 50 to 60g. They were studied clinically, biochemically, and pathologically, in comparison with three groups of rats fed with different diets, that is pantothenic acid (PaA)-deficient, PaA-added, and normal diet. As a result, the four groups were arranged in the decreasing order of gain in body weight as follows : PTSS>PaA>PaA-deficient>normal. The rats of the PaA-deficient group manifested rough coat, erected hair, rusty-red color of the face, and other signs of PaA-deficiency in accordance in growth. Such changes could not be observed in the PaA group or PTSS group. The CoA content of the liver was very low in the PaA-deficient group, but remained normaly in any other group. The pathological changes by PaA deficiency were apparent in the PaA-deficient group, but not observed in the PaA group or the PTSS group.
