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Journal of Nutrition Vol. 55 No. 3 March 1955, pp. 363-374
Copyright © 1955 by American Society for Nutrition
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Potassium Deficiency in the Rabbit as a Cause of Muscular Dystrophy1

Three Figures

E. L. Hove and John F. Herndon

Department of Animal Husbandry and Nutrition, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn

The rabbit required at least 0.6% potassium in the diet for maximum growth. With potassium levels of 0.3% or less, death occurred within 6 weeks with characteristic pathology. High sodium supplements to the potassium-deficient diet allowed slightly better growth but did not prevent death and pathology. Blood-cell sodium content increased while urine sodium decreased in potassium deficiency.

Potassium-deficient rabbits usually developed a severe and rapidly progressing muscular dystrophy, with a closely associated creatinurea. Death occurred after 4 to 6 weeks. Internal pathology, aside from atrophic and streaked musculature of the limbs, consisted of marked myocardial necrosis and scarring, numerous small gall bladder concretions, multiple hemorrhagic areas in the stomach, swollen and pale kidneys, occasional jaundice, and atonic intestinal tract.

1 Published with the approval of the Director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. This work was supported in part by a grant-in-aid from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness (project B 430). Appreciation is expressed to Lederle Laboratories for folacin, to A. E. Staley Mfg. Co. for inositol, and to Merck and Co. for other vitamins.

This paper was presented at the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society held in Birmingham, Alabama, October 21–23, 1954.

Manuscript received 28 September 1954.




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