TWENTY-SEVEN PIQURES IKTRODUCTIONRichardson and Hogan ('46) observed that about 2% of the infant rats produced by darns fed a synthetic type ration were hydrocephalic and showed that the abnormality could be prevented by including a liver extract in the diet. O'Dcll, Whitley a i d Hogan ( '48) found that hydrocephalus among tho offspring was largely prevented when folic acid was added to the diet. Later, O'Dell, Tl'hitley and Hogan ('51) showed that a much higher incidence of hydrocephalus, approximately 20% of the offspring, occurred when the dams consumed an all vegetable diet deficient in vitamin B12. The addition of vitamin B,, to the diet completely prevented the occurrence of hydrocephalus. More recent evidence (unpublished) has shown that an incidence of hydrocephalus of the order of 207. may be induced in the offspring of dams fed a folic acid antagonist (0.05% of crude methylfolic acid) even though vitamin B,, is present in adequate amounts. Nelson, Asling and Evans ('52) have used this same antagonist at a level

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract