BLOOD REGENERATION IN PYRIDOXINE-DEFICIENT RATS

Abstract

The importance of pyridoxine in erythropoiesis in the rat has been suggested by the work of Fouts and Lepkovsky and indicated in the present studies by the occasional occurrence of a moderately severe anemia in rats fed a pyridoxine-deficient diet. Additional evidence has been obtained by subjecting rats fed this pyridoxine-deficient diet to the stress of repeated bleedings. An impairment in the rate of red blood cell regeneration has been found uniformly in these rats when compared with litter-mate, pair-fed controls supplemented with pyridoxine. This erythropoietic inadequacy was prevented by pyridoxine adm. begun only 2 days before the start of hemorrhage. These findings for pyridoxine are similar to, though less striking than, those reported for Lactobacillus casei factor ("folic acid"). In those studied the bleeding technic was likewise used to manifest an erythropoietic failure which usually remained latent.