Abstract
From the fact that noradrenaline content and L-dopa decarboxylase activity in brain of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR) are in low value and that vitamin B6 (VB6) is necessary as a coenzyme of L-dopa decarboxylase, authors tried to clarify the changes of hypertension and L-dopa decarboxylase activity in VB6 deficient SHR. After 10 weeks' feeding with VB6 deficient food, we measured L-dopa decarboxylase activity and catecholamine content in SHR.
Results
1) There were no significant changes both in body weight and in blood pressure in VB6 deficient group.
2) L-dopa decarboxylase activity in brain, kidney, and liver were significantly decreased in SHR, but no significant changes were observed between control SHR and VB6 deficient SHR in brain and kidney. The significant decrease, however, was observed in liver of VB6 deficient SHR.
3) Dopa and dopamine contents of brain in VB6 deficient SHR were significantly increased, but no changes were observed in noradrenaline content.
We concluded that VB6 deficiency affected the enzyme activity in peripheral organs…especially in liver at first, but no influence was observed in brain in this short duration. We will next report the influence of VB6 de ficiency in long term feeding.
