Enzymatic Studies on Pyridoxine Metabolism

VI. Pyridoxine Metabolism in Pregnancy

Abstract

The pyridoxal phosphate content of non-pregnant mature rats, pregnant rats, their embryos and sucklings and the pyridoxine phosphate oxidase activity were determined in the livers. The levels were high in the livers of pregnant rats and low in those of embryos. After delivery, the levels gradually reached normal levels in livers of both post-natal sucklings and their mothers. Injection of the gonadotropic hormone resulted in levels similar to those in pregnancy with respect to the pyridoxal phosphate content and pyridoxine phosphate oxidase activity.