Intestinal Absorption of Fat in Tumor-bearing Rats.

An attempt has been made to confirm the potentially important observation made by Posner that subcutaneous growth of Walker carcinoma 9256in rats results in defec tive fat absorption, as measured by the amount of I'31-labeled tniolein in thonacic duct lymph. Posnen's results could not be confirmed. It is concluded that, under the condi tions of the present experiments, growth of the Walker tumor for 3 weeks has no effect on fat absorption. This result supports the findings of Colella, Reith, and Williams that humans with malignant neoplasms absorb fat normally. Posner used a type of restraining cage which may have led to mechanical interference of intestinal function in his rats bearing tumors in the inguinal region, whereas in the present study a cage was used which allowed more clearance for inguinal tumors. The