title: The differences of the metabolism related to vitamin B6-dependent enzymes among vitamin B6-deficient germ-free and conventional rats.
abstract: The differences of the metabolism related to vitamin B6-dependent enzymes were investigated using germ-free and conventional rats. There was a significant difference in the boyd weight gain between vitamin B6-deficient germ-free and conventional rats after about 30 days of the experiment, and the body weight gain was much less in the deficient germ-free rats than in the deficient conventional ones. Urinary excretion of xanthurenic acid was higher in the deficient germ-free rats than in the deficient conventional ones after 18 days. There was a significant difference in the activities of kynurenine aminotransferase in mitochondrial fractions of germ-free rats, but not in mitochondrial fractions of conventional ones. The activities of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, with or without pyridoxal phosphate, significantly decreased in the deficient germ-free rats, but not in the deficient conventional ones. These findings indicate that the degree of vitamin B6 deficiency was more severe in the deficient germ-free rats than in the deficient conventional ones, and also suggest that intestinal microflora may have some effects on vitamin B6-deficient conventional rats.
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000378:metabolism; D011773:Pyruvates; D051381:Rats; D000637:Transaminases / Q000378:metabolism; D026681:Vitamin B 6 Deficiency / Q000201:enzymology*; D014977:Xanthurenates / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D011773:Pyruvates; D014977:Xanthurenates; D007737:Kynurenine; D000637:Transaminases; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D011736:Pyridoxine