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SYNOPSIS. In a synthetic medium containing 57 compounds, including cholesterol, Trichomonas gallinae and T. gallinarum require 3 factors for growth and acid fermentation of maltose: (1) factor R, found in the protein contaminating some samples of ribonucleic acid, and in other isolated proteins such as conalbumin, γ-globulin, and bovine albumin fraction V; (2) factor T, found in Trypticase and in the same isolated proteins, but with activity at 4 times the dose required for factor-R activity, may be a large peptide containing proline; (3) factor S, found in serum, was replaceable by a saturated and an unsaturated fatty acid, each inactive alone. Only C14 through C18 saturated fatty acids were active over a range of 0.058 to 2.34 μm per tube in the presence of oleic acid, while C18 through C22 unsaturated fatty acids were active in the same range with palmitic acid as the supplement. The unsaturated fatty acids were toxic at the largest dose. All fatty acids were not equally active. Surface-active agents containing mixtures of fatty acids also replaced serum. A 4th factor, found in serum, stimulates the rate of growth as shown by cell counts at 3 days of incubation. T. gallinarum, T. foetus, and a trichomonad from a pig's nose responded to the same supplements when grown on another synthetic medium.

SummaryInvestigation of histological changes in osteodystrophy in chicks treated with hemin revealed that the major defect was in maturation of epiphyseal hyaline cartilage. Cells in this area appeared to be arrested in development. These findings are compared with cellular changes found in certain nutrient deficiency perosis.

EGGS have long been used as a medium ingredient for promoting the growth of bacteria and protozoa, and have been used for tissue cultures. They have been highly recommended as the first solid food for infants and as a staple in the adult diet. It was rather disconcerting, therefore, to see a paper suggesting that eggs contained a carcinogen. Szepsenwol (1955 Szepsenwol (1958a) reported that female chicks fed a diet of whole hatchery waste eggs, autoclaved for 40 minutes at 20 lbs. pressure, mixed with wheat bran, iodized salt and cod liver oil (the latter for the first month only) came into production relatively early and males had large combs, wattles and spurs. Controls on Purina broiler mash were smaller and became productive 2 months later than those on the egg diet. Four New Hampshire females, but no controls, were kept on the egg diet for 28 months, while three White …

SummaryTriparanol suppressed the synthesis of total lipids in 3 strains of Tetrahymena pyriformis. Strain differences were noted when triparanol inhibition was reversed with oleic acid or by prolonged incubation. Supplements of short-chained carboxylic acids influenced the effect of triparanol on the total lipids, the percentage composition of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and the specific fatty acids synthesized. There was an increase in the content of odd-numbered and branched-chain saturated fatty acids synthesized with triparanol plus pro-pionate or a-methyl-n-butyrate supplements, and an increase in the percentage of oleic acid synthesized with triparanol plus acetate supplements. Triparanol may act by inhibiting the ability of T. pyriformis to demethylate and to dehydrogenate saturated fatty acids in formation of unsaturated fatty acids.

THE availability of vitamin B12 for use in experimental work following its isolation by Rickes and co-workers (1948) and Smith (1948), has made possible further progress in the study of unidentified dietary factors required for rapid growth of the chick and poult. Ott et al. (1948) found that under their experimental conditions crystalline vitamin B12 produced a growth response comparable with that obtained with various crude supplements of animal origin. Lillie et al. (1948) confirmed these observations and obtained a similar response from cow manure factor concentrates described by Rubin and Bird (1946). Nichol et al. (1949) also reported that vitamin B12 was as effective in promoting chick growth in their studies as condensed fish solubles or injectable liver preparations. Thus, much of the unexplained growth-stimulating activity obtained with materials primarily of animal origin can be attributed to their vitamin B12 content. It is extremely difficult, however, to explain entirely . . .

SummaryPure cultures of E. coli and A. aerogenes were grown, lyophilized, and fed to chicks as dietary supplements both in the presence and in the absence of procaine penicillin G. Little or no chick growth response was obtained when either of these organisms were added to the ration in the absence of the antibiotic. Greater gains were obtained when 10 ppm procaine penicillin G were fed. When viable cultures of A. aerogenes and E. coli were fed in combination with penicillin, growth was further increased significantly. The effectiveness of the antibiotic in promoting chick growth was increased 64 and 80% when these organisms were added to the feed. The results obtained illustrate the influence of bacterial environment on the antibiotic growth effect and in nutritional studies.

Antimetabolites of folic acid, pyridoxine, and nicotinic acid have been shown to produce malformations and death of chick embryos (reviewed by Cravens, 1952). Certain analogs related to potential precursors of vitamin B12 have growth inhibiting properties in the nutrition of micro-organisms and rats (Beiler et al., 1951; Emerson et al., 1950; Woolley, 1950, 1951; Woolley and Pringle, 1952; Tamm et al., 1952). No work, however, has shown that such analogs might have an inhibitory effect on hatchability of chick embryos. This paper reports some preliminary observations on hatchability from the use of crystalline vitamin B12 (0.1% trituration with mannitol), l,2-dichloro-4, 5-diaminobenzene and 2, 5-dimethylbenzimidazole when injected into eggs prior to incubation. The eggs for the two trials were obtained from dams housed in pens equipped with raised-wire floors and fed a corn-wheat-soybean meal ration previously described by Arscott and Combs (1953) containing either 0 or 1 mcg. of vitamin B12 …

Elimination of the 7-hydroxysubstituent of the bile acids by intestinal microorganisms is a common reaction occurring in many species (1) and has been reproduced in vitro by a mixture of anaerobic intestinal microorganisms from the rat(2). Samuelsson has demonstrated that the reaction mechanism is a dehydration to a Δ6-derivative, followed by reduction (3).Human bile contains 3 main bile acids, cholic, chenodeoxycholic and deoxycholic acid, with a mean ratio of 1.1:1.0:0.6(4). Cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids are formed directly from cholesterol in the liver (1). Due to the action of microbial enzymes the 7-hydroxyl group of cholic acid is removed and the “secondary” bile acid deoxycholic acid is formed(5). Contrary to the rapid transformation of cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid is transformed slowly during the enterohepatic circulation. Three days after administration of chenodeoxycholic acid-24-C14 only 3% of the isotope in the human bile was recovered as lithocholic acid(6). Although definitive proo...

SummaryThe nutritional requirements of Lactobacillus bifidus isolated from the ceca of chicks and turkey poults have been studied. All strains were inhibited by high concentrations of sodium acetate. The organisms could be grown in an aerobic atmosphere, provided ascorbic acid was present, without any apparent change in bifid morphology. No growth was observed when a chemically defined medium was employed, but luxuriant growth was obtained in the basal medium when it was supplemented with Phytone or other crude substances. The activity of Phytone could not be replaced by the galactose acetyl-glucosamine or the incorporation of several other known growth-promoting substances into the basal medium. The nutritional fastidiousness of L. bifidus isolated from chicks and poults may suggest that these organisms compete with the host for mutually essential nutrients.

SummaryIn triparanol-inhibited cultures of T. pyriformis (strains W, H and S), squalene is greatly increased in amount and tetra-hymanol is decreased. In contrast, squalene appears in low concentration in uninhibited cultures. It appears that squalene might be converted directly to the pentacyclic compound, tetrahymanol, and that the cyclization of squalene is blocked by triparanol. Cholesterol was not identified in control or inhibited cultures and appears neither to be a sterol of major importance in this organism, nor an intermediate in the synthesis of tetrahymanol. Methods of purification and identification of tetrahymanol are given.

SummaryThalidomide fed in total doses of 70, 140, 500 or 1700 mg per hen (daily dose of 2.5 mg, 5.0, 25 and 85 mg/kg/day) increased the number of infertile eggs, fertile eggs which failed to develop and deaths in early and late stages of development. Egg production was not affected. Thalidomide treatment did not lead to an increase in gross malformations of the embryo. The effect of the drug was apparent on embryological development in the hen for as long as 30 days after discontinuing the drug.

SummaryA method of assay for a growth factor required by L. bifidus of avian origin has been developed. The factor is found in low amounts in isolated proteins and animal products, in higher amounts in plant materials, and in highest amounts in fermentation products, yeasts and bacterial cultures. The growth factor was not found in concentrates of liver, whey and fish solubles which were potent sources of unidentified chick growth factors. Chemical and physical properties of the L. bifidus factor are described.

SummaryAn investigation of certain physical and biochemical aspects of osteodystrophy in chicks treated with hemin revealed a significant decrease in serum and bone alkaline phosphatase activity. In addition, feathering was abnormal. No change in per cent bone ash was observed. Possible relationship to known nutrient deficiency symptoms is discussed.

SYNOPSIS. The steroid requirement of a Trypticase-requiring strain, SLT, of Trichomonas gallinae on the Shorb-Lund synthetic basal medium minus ribonucleic acid was fulfilled by cholesterol, 7-dehydrocholesterol(provitamin D3), cholestanol (dihydrocholesterol), and to a lesser degree, by ergosterol (provitamin D2), β-sitosterol and zymosterol acetate. Cholestanol was inhibitory at certain concentrations. All steroids were subsequently checked by gas chromatography. Only cholesterol and zymosterol acetate showed one peak, the others containing 2 to 4 peaks. Repurified cholestanol was active and showed no inhibition of growth, but repurified β-sitosterol was inactive. The following were also inactive: diethylstilbestrol, estrone, dehydroepiandrosterone, progesterone, testosterone, desoxycorticosterone acetate, cortisone acetate, compound A, 5,6-dihydro-ergosterol, dihydroergosterol acetate, stigmasterol, sodium taurocholate, cholic acid, methyl desoxycholate, desoxycholic acid and methyl cholate. Precursors in cholesterol synthesis, acetate, mevalonic acid, mevalonic acid plus a liver extract and squalene were inactive in replacing cholesterol, although acetate is required for growth in the presence of cholesterol. Crystalline fat soluble vitamins, carotene, calciferol (vitamin D2), activated 7-dehydrocholesterol (vitamin D3), menadione (vitamin K3) and tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E acetate) were inactive in replacing cholesterol. Trichomonas species PN from the pig's nose utilized cholesterol, 7-dehydrocholesterol and the impure β-sitosterol sample in a modified SL medium with acetate omitted. A reinvestigation of steroid requirements seems to be indicated when a completely synthetic medium and pure steroids are available.

The production of an artifact by the methanolysis of total lipids of Ascaridia galli with boron trifluoride-methanol was dependent on the reaction time and the age of the reagent used. It was shown that this artifact was produced from oleic acid. Methanolysis of total lipids with sodium methoxide was complete in 10 min, and no artifact was produced.