Biomaterial Database

Vitamin B-6 deficiency in germfree rats. 1977

Y Sumi, and M Miyakawa, and M Kanzaki, and Y Kotake

Germfree and conventional rats were used to investigate the influence of gut microflora upon vitamin B-6 deficiency. The body weights of conventional rats fed a vitamin B-6-deficient diet for more than 5 weeks plateaued, but the rats remained alive until the end of week 9 of deficiency. The body weights of germfree rats fed the same deficient diet decreased, andmost of rats were moribund around the end of week 9 of deficiency; three died. Urinary xanthurenic acid excretion following tryptophan load continued to rise at each experimental week in deficient germfree rats, while such a progressive increase in the level of the excretion was not observed in deficient conventional rats. Autopsy revealed that some of deficient germfree rats suffered from partial or toal lunficient conventional rats. The lung atelectasis was presumed to be the result of the respiratory muscle insufficiency which was closely related to the changes of the peripheral nerves innervating these muscles. The results may suggest that the presence of gut microflora made some contribution to improvement of the vitamin B-6 deficiency.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007422	Intestines	The section of the alimentary canal from the STOMACH to the ANAL CANAL. It includes the LARGE INTESTINE and SMALL INTESTINE.	Intestine
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
D008168	Lung	Either of the pair of organs occupying the cavity of the thorax that effect the aeration of the blood.	Lungs
D008297	Male		Males
D011736	Pyridoxine	The 4-methanol form of VITAMIN B 6 which is converted to PYRIDOXAL PHOSPHATE which is a coenzyme for synthesis of amino acids, neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine), sphingolipids, aminolevulinic acid. Although pyridoxine and Vitamin B 6 are still frequently used as synonyms, especially by medical researchers, this practice is erroneous and sometimes misleading (EE Snell; Ann NY Acad Sci, vol 585 pg 1, 1990).	Pyridoxin,Pyridoxine Hydrochloride,Pyridoxol,Pyridoxol Hydrochloride,Rodex
D011901	Ranvier's Nodes	Regularly spaced gaps in the myelin sheaths of peripheral axons. Ranvier's nodes allow saltatory conduction, that is, jumping of impulses from node to node, which is faster and more energetically favorable than continuous conduction.	Nodes of Ranvier,Nodes, Ranvier's,Ranvier Nodes,Ranviers Nodes
D002531	Cerebellum	The part of brain that lies behind the BRAIN STEM in the posterior base of skull (CRANIAL FOSSA, POSTERIOR). It is also known as the "little brain" with convolutions similar to those of CEREBRAL CORTEX, inner white matter, and deep cerebellar nuclei. Its function is to coordinate voluntary movements, maintain balance, and learn motor skills.	Cerebella,Corpus Cerebelli,Parencephalon,Cerebellums,Parencephalons
D003964	Diaphragm	The musculofibrous partition that separates the THORACIC CAVITY from the ABDOMINAL CAVITY. Contraction of the diaphragm increases the volume of the thoracic cavity aiding INHALATION.	Respiratory Diaphragm,Diaphragm, Respiratory,Diaphragms,Diaphragms, Respiratory,Respiratory Diaphragms
D005856	Germ-Free Life	Animals not contaminated by or associated with any foreign organisms.	Axenic Animals,Gnotobiotics,Germfree Life,Animal, Axenic,Animals, Axenic,Axenic Animal,Germ Free Life,Gnotobiotic,Life, Germ-Free,Life, Germfree
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