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The Pathology of Riboflavin Deficiency in the Rat¹

Sixteen Figures

Department of Biochemistry, College of Agriculture, University of Wisconsin, Madison

It has been demonstrated that a severe riboflavin deficiency in the rat results in a partial paralysis of the legs. This type of paralysis is produced more easily on a high fat ration and it is prevented by the daily feeding of crystalline riboflavin. This paralysis in its severe form is characterized by degeneration of the myelin sheaths of the nerves accompanied by axis cylinder swelling and fragmentation. Myelin degeneration and gliosis in the spinal cord have been observed.

Histologic examination of the testis and thymus of riboflavin deficient rats shows that there is an early and marked atrophy of the testis and an abnormally early involution of the thymus. Structural changes are also observed in the thyroid and adrenal of the most severe cases. These changes have been described.

It is concluded from these studies that a riboflavin deficiency in the rat causes histopathologic changes in certain endocrine glands, the testis and also in the central nervous system.

These studies were made possible by grants from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and the Works Progress Administration.

Manuscript received 5 June 1941.

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