Embryonic death in mink due to riboflavin deficiency.

Riboflavin deficiency has been produced experimentally in mink by adding to the feed 10--20 mg galactoflavin--anti-B2 vitamin--per animal daily during the pregnancy. The experiment included 44 standard female mink (Table II). Riboflavin deficiency led to embryonic death; none of the mated females in the deficient group delivered kits. At the expected time of birth, six of the females were subjected to uterectomy or investigative laparatomy, which showed remnants of embryos that were mostly decomposed (Figs. 1 and 2). In a parallel group, four of six females on the same diet with the same doses of galactoflavin, but with 50--100 mg riboflavin added daily, delivered normal litters (Table II). Five standard male mink were placed on the same experimental diet supplemented with 30 mg galactoflavin per animal daily from 15/12 to 18/3. The fertility of these males was not influenced in a negative way.