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Nutritional Evaluations of Three Dietary Levels of Lactalbumin throughout the Lifespan of Two Generations of Syrian Hamsters¹

Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 42nd and Dewey Avenue, Omaha, NE 68105

Syrian hamsters were fed one of three levels of lactalbumin (10, 20 or 40%) or a commercial diet from 4 weeks of age. The hamsters were mated at 12 weeks of age and parents (F₀ generation) and offspring (F₁ generation) remained for life on the assigned parental diet. Hamsters were killed to evaluate nutritional status from both generations at 4, 10, 22, 34 and 64 weeks of age. Remaining hamsters were allowed to live out their natural lifespan. Female hamsters generally grew faster with each increment in lactalbumin. Growth was greatest in male hamsters on the 20% lactalbumin diet and greater in the F₁ than in the F₀ generation. Reproduction was superior in hamsters fed the commercial diet and differed by season in those given purified diets, with the best performance following the autumn matings. Litter size and body weights of offspring at weaning increased from hamsters fed 10% of those fed higher levels. In the F₀ generation, the longest female lifespans were observed in the 20 and 40% lactalbumin groups, with shorter survivals in the 10% and commercially fed groups, respectively. The F₁ generation females had longer survivals with each increase in lactalbumin. Male survival in both generations increased from the commercial diet to the 40 and 10% lactalbumin levels and was greatest in males fed 20% lactalbumin diet.

KEY WORDS: • Syrian hamsters • dietary protein • longevity • reproduction

¹ Supported by Public Health Service contracts N01 CP33278 and N01 CP05628 from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.

Manuscript received 5 April 1982.