Plasma Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate Levels in Vitamin B6 Deficient Cotton Rats During Infection withLitomosoides carinii

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Abstract
Plasma pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP) activity was determined over a 24-week period in uninfected cotton rats and in those infected with the nematode parasite Litomosoides carinii. Levels of PLP showed a direct correlation with dietary pyridoxine (vitamin B6) intake. PLP concentrations were significantly lower in cotton rats orally fed a pyridoxine-free diet ad libitum compared to rats fed either a vitamin B6 free diet ad libitum or a vitamin B6 diet in limited amounts and also given a 100 μg daily vitamin B6 supplement. From the onset of infection with L. carinii 8 weeks after diet commencement, PLP levels declined steadily up to the end of the experiment. PLP levels were 3 to 3.5 times lower in worms from pyridoxine-deficient cotton rats than in worms taken from cotton rats given oral vitamin B6 supplementation.