The influence of microorganisms and of stress on the chick's requirement for pantothenic acid

Abstract

1. The responses of germ-free (GF) and conventional (CV) chicks to suboptimal amounts of dietary calcium pantothenate (CaPa) were compared. At the lower levels of supplementation the signs of deficiency were more severe in the CV chicks. 2. Calculations based on mean body-weights of chicks given graded dietary supplements of calcium pantothenate (CaPa) in both environments showed that, to achieve the same body-weight and freedom from signs of deficiency, the GF birds required only approximately two-thirds the amount of CaPa as was needed by corresponding CV birds. 3. Increasing the dietary supplement of CaPa resulted in increased contents of PaA in the livers. GF birds had more PaA per liver than their CV counterparts. In both instances the effect was due to the larger liver size. Concentration of PaA in the liver was not affected by dietary supplement nor by the environment. 4. CV birds were deemed to be under greater stress than GF birds because their adrenal glands were heavier and contained less cholesterol. 5. CV chicks deliberately stressed by injections of adrenocorticotrophic hormone had heavier adrenals with lower cholesterol contents than unstressed controls, but the condition was not altered by increasing the dietary supply of CaPa.