Growth of albino rats with amino acid mixture of different patterns.

Twenty five female weanling rats of the Donryu strain from five litters were separated into 3 groups, and they were fed with (1) an amino acid diet, (2) a diet in which a part of glutamic acid was substituted with isonitrogenous glutamine, and (3) a diet in which a part of aspartic acid was substituted with isonitrogenous asparagine. Three amino acid mixtures (the 18 % casein-, the Miyazaki-, and the Rama Rao-pattern) were examined respectively with the above mentioned diets, and a diet made into gel-form was also examined. Growth in tail length and body weight, and food intake were observed throughout six weeks. A growth response to amino acid mixture of the modified pattern seemed to be superior to each original one, but the difference was not statistically significant. A diet in an agar gel was not so efficient.