The Influence of Mineral Levels on the Production of Muscular Degeneration in the Chick

Although numerous studies have shown that mineral elements may influence the development of vitamin E deficiency conditions in birds (Ames, 1956; Nesheim and Scott, 1961; Supplee et al., 1958) as well as in other animals (Smith et al., 1950; Hove and Herndon, 1955; Bunyan et al., 1958) few reports have appeared on the relation of these elements to the production of myopathy in the chick resulting from a deficiency of vitamin E and sulphur amino acids. Nesheim and Scott (1958) demonstrated that high levels of selenium were only partially effective against the muscular degeneration. Recently, Calvert et al. (1961) from the same laboratory, presented data indicating that phosphorus metabolism may be specifically affected during the development of dystrophy in the chick. In the study reported here, a series of experiments was conducted t o evaluate the importance of dietary levels of mineral elements in the production of the muscular lesions.