Biomaterial Database

Nitrous oxide induced vitamin B12 deficiency: measurement of methylation reactions in the fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus). 1986

J L McLoughlin, and R C Cantrill

Nitrous oxide induced inhibition of methionine synthetase activity has been proposed as a suitable model for the myelopathy associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. This suggests a defect in methyl group metabolism. The fruit bat has been used previously as a model for dietary induced vitamin B12 deficiency. However in the nitrous oxide treated fruit bat with neurological symptoms: No changes in [14C]ethanolamine incorporation into liver and brain phospholipids could be detected. No changes in synaptosomal and myelin lipid methylation could be shown. No differences in the rate of synaptosomal and myelin protein methylation could be measured. Therefore the fruit bat myelopathy is not related to a methyl group transfer deficiency.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008745	Methylation	Addition of methyl groups. In histo-chemistry methylation is used to esterify carboxyl groups and remove sulfate groups by treating tissue sections with hot methanol in the presence of hydrochloric acid. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Methylations
D009609	Nitrous Oxide	Nitrogen oxide (N2O). A colorless, odorless gas that is used as an anesthetic and analgesic. High concentrations cause a narcotic effect and may replace oxygen, causing death by asphyxia. It is also used as a food aerosol in the preparation of whipping cream.	Laughing Gas,Nitrogen Protoxide,Gas, Laughing,Oxide, Nitrous
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D002250	Carbon Radioisotopes	Unstable isotopes of carbon that decay or disintegrate emitting radiation. C atoms with atomic weights 10, 11, and 14-16 are radioactive carbon isotopes.	Radioisotopes, Carbon
D002685	Chiroptera	Order of mammals whose members are adapted for flight. It includes bats, flying foxes, and fruit bats.	Bats,Flying Foxes,Horseshoe Bats,Pteropodidae,Pteropus,Rhinolophus,Rousettus,Bat, Horseshoe,Bats, Horseshoe,Foxes, Flying,Horseshoe Bat
D004983	Ethanolamines	AMINO ALCOHOLS containing the ETHANOLAMINE; (-NH2CH2CHOH) group and its derivatives.	Aminoethanols
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014806	Vitamin B 12 Deficiency	A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of VITAMIN B 12 in the diet, characterized by megaloblastic anemia. Since vitamin B 12 is not present in plants, humans have obtained their supply from animal products, from multivitamin supplements in the form of pills, and as additives to food preparations. A wide variety of neuropsychiatric abnormalities is also seen in vitamin B 12 deficiency and appears to be due to an undefined defect involving myelin synthesis. (From Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 19th ed, p848)	Deficiency, Vitamin B 12,Deficiency, Vitamin B12,Vitamin B12 Deficiency,Deficiencies, Vitamin B12,Vitamin B12 Deficiencies
D019856	Ethanolamine	A viscous, hygroscopic amino alcohol with an ammoniacal odor. It is widely distributed in biological tissue and is a component of lecithin. It is used as a surfactant, fluorimetric reagent, and to remove CO2 and H2S from natural gas and other gases.	2-Aminoethanol,Colamine,Monoethanolamine,2 Aminoethanol