A Consideration of Galactose Toxicity in Male and Female Chicks

Abstract

A CONSIDERATION of galactose toxicity and metabolism in the chick is significant in that milk products are often fed to poultry. As problems arise in some animals and humans when galactose is ingested, it is important to understand the basis of galactose toxicity. The chick is particularly sensitive to ingested galactose and exhibits some striking and characteristic symptoms. In so far as results with he chicks may be generalized, such studies are also of some theoretical significance.Although Dam (1944) reported that a diet containing 55 percent galactose caused convulsions and death of young chicks, it was subsequently found (Rutter et al., 1953) that galactose is not tolerated by chicks when fed at levels exceeding 10 percent of the diet. A typical quivering syndrome develops after several days of feeding galactose and in more severe cases epileptiform seizures and sometimes death result. Traces of lactose and high concentrations of galactose …