Factors affecting formiminoglutamic acid excretion in vitamin B 12 deficiency.
1. Formiminoglutamic acid, a product of the catabolism of histidine, is excreted in abnormally large amounts in the urines of vitamin B(12)-deficient rats and of vitamin B(12)-deficient sheep; the excretion is reduced to negligible amounts after administration of vitamin B(12). 2. After administration of certain methyl donors to vitamin B(12)-deficient rats or sheep urinary excretion of formiminoglutamic acid is temporarily decreased. 3. Irrespective of the pteroylglutamic acid status of the animals neither vitamin B(12)-deficient rats nor vitamin B(12)-deficient sheep have the ability to deal efficiently with histidine. 4. In sheep, urinary excretion of formiminoglutamic acid is increased after administration of aminopterin; treatment with pteroylglutamic acid restores the ability of the animal to deal with the catabolic products of histidine. 5. The possible functions of vitamin B(12) and methionine in relieving a virtual deficiency of pteroylglutamic acid are discussed.
D000630:Aminopterin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001622:Betaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy; D005977:Glutarates / Q000652:urine*; D006639:Histidine / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D012756:Sheep; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000652:urine*
D005977:Glutarates; D001622:Betaine; D006639:Histidine; D005492:Folic Acid; D008715:Methionine; D000630:Aminopterin; D014805:Vitamin B 12