The effects of vitamin A deficiency of oral gustatory behaviour in chicks

1. Two groups of chicks (Gallus domesticus) were fed on a vitamin A-deficient diet for 24 d. Birds in one group, which acted as a control, were dosed orally with retinyl palmitate in corn oil, whereas the other group (experimental) was given corn oil only throughout the experiment. 2. At regular intervals birds in both groups were stimulated, orally with solutions of acetic acid, quinine hydrochloride and sodium chloride and the number of beak and tongue movements counted. 3. By the end of the experiment the vitamin A-deficient birds showed a significant decrease in their response to the oral stimulants compared with the control birds.