Glutamic Acid in Milk Anemia. Effect on Hemoglobin Regeneration in “Cystine Deficient” Animals. ∗ †

Certain investigators 1 have reported that glutamic acid supplements Fe in the treatment of milk anemia in rats, but this finding has not been confirmed by others. 2 , 3 In our experiments 4 carried out with normal rats from our stock colony the addition of glutamic acid to various metals did not produce any supplementary effect on Hb regeneration and growth.

Certain observations, 5 however, appeared to indicate that factors other than the composition of the milk ration and the supplements per se might play a role in Hb regeneration. Accordingly the following experiments were undertaken.

A group of 8 rats which had been on a deficient diet was selected. These animals had received for approximately 3 months a ration of the following composition: corn starch 54.5, lard 24.5, casein 9, salt mixture (O.M.) 4.5, sugar 4.5, and cod liver oil 3%. 6 It should be noted that this diet is low in protein and deficient in cystine. This ration was continued for an additional 2 months, supplemented by fresh green lettuce (approximately 20 gm. per rat daily). At the end of this period the rats were bred (normal males were used). The fertility of the animals was found to be low and the mothers had difficulty in nursing their young properly. During the lactation period the mother rat received about 1 oz. of liquid milk per day in addition to the diet. When the pups were 18 days old, whole milk powder (klim) was substituted for the low protein (cystine-deficient) diet above. The pups were weaned when 22 to 25 days old and weighed 22 to 37 gm. Only 3 litters with a total of 11 animals were weaned successfully by the above procedure.

For the production of anemia the procedure previously described 4 was employed. The blood Hb level was reduced to approximately 4 gm. per 100 cc. in 3 to 7 weeks, except in one case in which it required 94 days to produce anemia.