The relation of pyruvic acid in brain to certain tissue poisons

Abstract

Fluoride and fodo-acetate equally reduce O2 uptake of avitaminous pigeon''s brain tissue. Each largely reduces the catatorulin effect (extra O2 uptake in presence of added vit. B1): both together eliminate this. The effect upon pyruvate formation by avitaminous brain is different; iodoacetate leads to increased accumulation and fluoride the reverse. So far as pyruvate only is concerned, this is consistent with the finding of Meyerhof and Kiessling for muscle exts. Glutathione produces only partial restoration of the vitamin effect in presence of iodoacetate. Disappearance of pyruvate in presence of vit. B is an indirect result of some other change. These poisons influence a preparatory stage for oxidation.