AbstractsMedical & Health Science

Fifty-six animals were used in an experiment designed to study the effect of feeding protamone and thiouracil to guinea pigs. A modified type of oxygen consumption apparatus was described* Observations were made on the weight, oxygen consumption, feed and water intake and respiration rate of the animals during pregnancy and lactation. The outcome of pregnancy, post mortem findings and histological changes in both the mother and offspring were noted, as well as the birth weight and gains of the young. Thiouracil (40 mg./day) was without effect on the guinea pigs. The two levels of protamone used (800 ug. and 1600 ug./day) had an equal effect. Although protamone brought about an increase in oxygen consumption per unit of body weight and a decrease in rate of gain of adult female guinea pigs, no detrimental effect on either the mother or the young was observed.