Sulphur metabolism. II. The distribution of sulphur in the tissues of rats fed rations with and without the addition of elementary sulphur

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.