Antagonist Studies

Abstract

Summary

1. Mice receiving a vit. B₆ deficient-high protein diet were observed to have significantly lower transaminase, dopa decarboxylase and cysteine desulfhydrase activities as compared to similar animals receiving an identical diet supplemented with pyridoxine. Cysteine desulfhydrase was the most sensitive to vit. B₆ deprivation, followed by transaminase and dopa decarboxylase. 2. The administration of desoxypyridoxine to mice receiving an ad libitum stock diet containing adequate vit. B₆ significantly decreased transaminase and dopa decarboxylase activity. However, cysteine desulfhydrase activity was uninhibited. 3. A possible explanation of the observed results is discussed, the potentialities of vitamin antagonists as precise chemotherapeutic agents being indicated.