Relationship between Glutamate Decarboxylase Activities in Brains and the Vitamin B-6 Requirement of Male Rats

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Glutamate decarboxylase activities in brains of male rats born to dams fed varying levels, approximately 15 to 90 µg, of pyridoxine daily for 3 weeks prior to mating and during pregnancy and lactation were compared; this parameter was evaluated as a criterion for the assessment of vitamin B-6 requirements. Male offspring received the same level of pyridoxine as their respective dams and were evaluated at 5 weeks of age. Final body and brain weights and brain protein content of rats receiving approximately 15 µg pyridoxine daily were significantly lower than those of other groups. The divergent group was the same in relation to brain glutamate decarboxylase activities measured in the absence of added coenzyme and to percentage coenzyme stimulation of the activity. The lower enzyme activity was attributed to coenzyme depletion as opposed to a decrease in apoenzyme concentration. Brain glutamate decarboxylase activity was not observed to be a more sensitive indicator of vitamin B-6 inadequacy than erythrocyte alanine aminotransferase activity.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: