Effect of Penicillamine (a vitamin B6 antagonist) on Pyridoxal Enzymes

Abstract
The effect of penicillamine administration on pyridoxal enzyme activities of rats was investigated. Penicillamine reduced the activities of glutamate decarboxylase [EC 4.1.1.15] in brain and ornithine aminotransferase [EC 2.6.1.13] in small intestine, and increased those of ornithine and tyrosine aminotransferases [EC 2.6.1.5] in liver. It did not cause much change in the activities of kidney ornithine aminotransferase or liver aspartate or alanine aminotransferases [EC 2.6.1.1 and 2]. Changes in these activities were prevented by simultaneous injection of pyridoxine. A marked increase in activity of the inactivating enzyme for pyridoxal enzymes was also observed in the small intestine of animals treated with penicillamine. Treatment of adrenalec-tomized rats with penicillamine unaffected liver ornithine aminotransferase activity. The possible interrelation between penicillamine and these pyridoxal enzymes is discussed in this paper.