Vitamin B6 Deficiency in the Syrian Hamster

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Abstract
Male weanling Syrian hamsters were maintained on a purified diet deficient in vitamin B6. This led to arrest of growth after a depletion period of two to three weeks, diminished food and water intake, progressive malnutrition, muscular weakness and changes of the fur. Increased quantities of xanthurenic acid were found in the urine. The deficient animals did not survive beyond 12 to 13 weeks. Autopsy showed loss of fat tissue and marked atrophy of the lymphoid tissues, notably the thymus, even when malnutrition was mild. There was arrest of sexual maturation and bone growth. Pair-fed controls receiving 50 µg pyridoxine HCl daily showed arrest of growth and atrophy of lymphoid tissues, but failed to develop fur changes, muscular weakness, or cachexia. Controls fed ad libitum and receiving daily 50 µg of pyridoxine HCl showed good growth and nutrition and normal activity. Their fur was normal and there was no atrophy of the lymphoid tissues. Upon treatment of the deficient animals with daily injections of 50 µg of pyridoxine HCl after a depletion period of 9½ weeks, there were in most animals resumption of appetite and growth, deposition of fat and general return to normal behavior and appearance. Fur changes were repaired within one week of treatment. A single injection of pyridoxine HCl seemed to bring about similar results, the effect lasting for about two weeks. Although the presence of unsaturated fatty acids in the diet seemed to delay the onset of deficiency symptoms, the addition of corn oil to the diet of animals in an advanced state of depletion did not have any beneficial effect.