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Intestinal Synthesis of Folic Acid in Monoflora Chicks¹

Biochemistry Department, University of Missouri Medical Center, Columbia, Missouri

A new germfree chicken cage which has been described in the literature, was used to rear germfree and monoflora chicks for studies on the intestinal synthesis of folic acid. Seven-day-old chicks shown previously to be germfree and fed 100 µg of added folic acid/kg of diet were monoinoculated with Escherichia coli. These chicks were allowed to grow for 14 days. The stimulatory effects of the bacteria were detected in the growth rate, hematocrits and hemoglobin values. Analysis of the water at the termination of the experiments indicated that the chicks could not have drunk enough water to obtain the necessary amount of folic acid. When modified cages were used, in which the water was changed periodically, analysis showed conclusively that there was no significant amount of folic acid synthesis taking place in the water trough. The contributions due to coprophagy, attempts to monoinoculate with other strains of bacteria and possible growth stimulation using a complete diet were considered.

² Present address: Protein Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, California.

Manuscript received 27 February 1963.