Studies on Vitamin Metabolism in Emetine Poisoning

Abstract

Young growing rats were treated repeatedly with a small daily dose of emetine. Such emetine treatment caused a reduction in food intake, resulting in a diminished growth rate. No change from the normal was found in the metabolism of vitamin A, riboflavin, nicotinic and pantothenic acids, and biotin. Phosphorylation of thamine and methylation of nicotinic acid were also unimpaired. Emetine-treated rats stored smaller amounts of thiamine and folacin in their livers than pair-fed untreated controls. Emetine-treated rats excreted a smaller percentage of folacin in their urine, after injection of a test dose of this vitamin. Likewise, the urinary excretion of citrovorum factor after injection of folacin together with ascorbic acid, was also decreased in emetine-treated rats, in comparison with controls. Emetine-treated rats excreted less ascorbic acid in their urine; their adrenals contained more and their livers less ascorbic acid than the corresponding organs of untreated controls. The synthesis of ascorbic acid following stimulation with barbiturate was not impaired in emetine-treated animals.