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Congenital Cataract in Albino Rats Fed Different Amounts of Tryptophan and Niacin¹

Five Figures

Department of Home Economics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Pregnant rats fed an acid-hydrolyzed casein diet supplemented with 0.2% tryptophan produced young with congenital cataracts. When this diet was further supplemented with 10 mg% niacin, the eyes of the young were normal. This combination, however, was insufficient for normal weight gain and for prevention of fat accumulation in the livers of the mothers.

The 10 mg% niacin supplement was without effect in protecting the fetal lens when the tryptophan content of the maternal diet was reduced to 0.025%.

The possibility that the cataracts produced by tryptophan-deficient diets of the type used in this study may be due to the limited amount of tryptophan available for conversion to niacin is discussed.

² The data reported in this paper were presented to the Faculty of the Division of Biological Sciences of the University of Chicago in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

³ Present address: School of Home Economics, Pennsylvania State College, State College.

Manuscript received 15 September 1950.

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