MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty male and 20 female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 78 to 100 g. were divided into 5 groups of 4 rats each. Experiments were planned for 4 weeks as shown in Table 1. Rats in the control group, group 1, received Purina rat chow (PMI Feeds, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri) and regular tap water. Group 2 rats received rat chow and an aqueous solution of 0.75% ethylene glycol and 2% ammonium chloride. Group 3 rats received AIN-76A and regular water. Group 4 rats were given the AIN diet and regular water for the first 2 weeks and then the AIN diet and an aqueous solution of 0.5% ethylene glycol and 2% ammonium chloride. Rats in group 5 were given Purina rat chow and an aqueous solution of 0.5% ethylene glycol and 2% ammonium chloride after the first 2 weeks of consuming the AIN diet and tap water.