Abstract:
(1) The distribution of sulphur was determined in the tissues of
three groups of young rats. One was fed a modified Osborne-Mendel
low protein basal diet, one the basal diet supplemented with 0.8 per
cent. of elementary sulphur, and the remaining one the same
supplemented ration plus orange juice ad libitum. Sulphur feeding
increased especially the total sulphur content of the lung and spleen.
Next in order came the heart and kidney. The total sulphur content
of the lung of the sulphur group was 170.2 and of the spleen 149.8
mgm. more per 100 gm. dry material than the content of the respective
tissues taken from the control group. The average increase in
the amount of sulphur in the heart and kidney was about half of
the average increase in the lung and spleen. On the whole less
sulphur was stored in the tissues of the sulphur group that received
orange juice in addition, but the differences are too small to warrant
any definite conclusions.
(2) The distribution of various forms of sulphur in the tissues
of two groups of adult rats, one fed the stock ration, the other
the stock ration supplemented with 3 per cent. elementary sulphur,
was also determined. Sulphur feeding likewise increased the total
sulphur content of the heart, spleen and lung but not so much of
the kidney. The three former organs contained, respectively, 81.0,
61.0 and 57.9 mgm. more sulphur per 100 gm. dry material than
the same organs taken from animals raised on the stock ration alone.
(3) Sulphur feeding had little effect upon the sulphate content
of rat tissues, thus substantiating the observation of Denis and Leche
(1925b). The only tissues in which the sulphate content was slightly
increased were the kidney, spleen and blood. The respective tissues
of the sulphur fed animals contained 20.63, 8.55 and 8.27 mgm.
more sulphate sulphur per 100 gm. dry material than the same tissues
taken from the control animals.
(4) There was found to be no difference in the concentration
of volatile sulphide in the tissues of animals fed rations with and
without the addition of flowers of sulphur.
