Essentiality in Animals and Man

Essentiality in Animals and Man Glendening et al. (1956) were the first to examine the essentiality of rubidium, but obtained no evidence that rubidium was an essential element in rats fed purified diets with variable supplements of rubidium, sodium, and potassium (Nielsen 1986). Later, the essentiality of rubidium in animals was also tested in experiments repeated six times with intrauterine Rb- 

Following the exhaustion of their rubidium stores, the feed intake of goats with a rubidium-poor nutrition decreased significantly (Anke et al. 1993) such that, on average, adult goats with rubidium-poor rations, when studied over six generations and with intrauterine rubidium depletion, consumed 16% less feed (see Table 1.4-7). 

The Rb-poor nutrition influenced the number of goats without heat and the number of unsuccessful first inseminations only insignificantly, though clearly (Table 1.4-7). The conception rate of Rb-deficient goats was significantly less than that of controls, but the most important point noted was the extremely high abortion and miscarriage rates in the Rb-deficient animals. 

the fetuses were regularly aborted during the 3rd to 5th months of pregnancy, most frequently in the 5th month. Miscarried kids born after day 125 of pregnancy were occasionally viable if bottle-fed with mother s milk. One-third of the viable kids died within the first 91 days of life, with 

The Rb-poor nutrition also influenced milk production, mainly due to the significantly reduced feed consumption (Table 1.4-7). Rb-deficient goats produced 31% less milk than controls, though the Rb content of the colostrum from controls and Rb-deficient goats was similar and low when compared with native milk. In Rb-deficient goats the Rb content of mature milk 

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