Blood Pressure and Thiocyanate Space in the Vitamin B6-Deficient Rat During Pregnancy

Abstract

Changes in blood pressure and thiocyanate space have been investigated in pregnant and nonpregnant vitamin B₆-deficient and control rats. Blood pressures were within the normal range. No evidence was observed of hypertension as a result of vitamin B₆ deficiency in either pregnant or nonpregnant rats under the conditions of this study. Total thiocyanate space increased significantly in pregnant animals fed pyridoxine and to a lesser degree in pregnant animals fed deoxypyridoxine. When calculated on a basis of body weight, thiocyanate space increased in deficient animals indicating a tendency toward water retention in vitamin B₆ deficiency. This effect appeared to be due chiefly to the deficiency and was not intensified by the additional stress of pregnancy. While the relative increase in the percentage of thiocyanate space during vitamin B₆ deficiency may be associated in part with loss of body fat, it is conceivable that this tendency toward water retention, though not intensified by pregnancy, might be related to the water retention observed in toxemias. Some aspects of this problem are currently being investigated in this laboratory.