Pathology of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Infant Rats

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Abstract
A high percentage of the offspring of vitamin B12-deficient rats were hydrocephalic at birth. The neurons and glial cells of the hydrocephalic brains showed irreversible degenerative changes. The peripheral nerves were poorly myelinated whereas myelination of the brain was only slightly affected. The neurons of the spinal cord showed loss of Nissl substance along with other degenerative changes. The adrenal glands also showed degenerative changes with accumulation of excess lipide in the fascicular zone. The lungs and kidneys were grossly immature. There were more cells in some stage of mitosis in the ependyma of the deficient embryonic brain. The preponderance of mitotic figures in an early stage of mitosis and the general state of immaturity of the other tissues suggests that a metabolic block has slowed the rate of cell division.