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The Effect of Antibiotics on in Vitro Cellulose Digestion by Rumen Microorganisms^1,2

Departments of Bacteriology, Agricultural Chemistry and Dairy, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, East Lansing

ABSTRACT

The effect of penicillin, streptomycin, neomycin and chloromycetin on in vitro cellulose digestion was studied.

Periodic antibiotic assays showed that the concentration of streptomycin increased above the initial level during the first 8 hr. and persisted at a high level throughout the 24-hr, period. Approximately 40 per cent of the neomycin disappeared within 45 min. and then the rate of disappearance was slow for the rest of the period. The concentration of penicillin dropped to less than 25 per cent of the original value within 45 min. and then persisted at a constant level for the rest of the period. The level of chloromycetin decreased rapidly and was not detectable after 4 hr.

In the concentrations used, penicillin stimulated the cellulolytic rumen microorganisms at the lower concentrations, neomycin was stimulatory in all concentrations, streptomycin was slightly stimulatory in the lowest concentration and chloromycetin adversely affected the microorganisms.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal article no. 1317.

² This study was made in part with funds provided by the Research and Marketing Act of 1946, through a cooperative project between the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station and the Bureau of Dairy Industry.

³ Agent of the Bureau of Dairy Industry, U.S.D.A.

⁴ This article is part of a dissertation presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Michigan State College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science.