Effect of Chlortetracycline to Cause Deficiency of Flavins

Abstract

Possible action of chlortetracycline (CTC) to provoke ariboflavinosis was examined using albino rats. Body weight gain and flavin contents of the liver and kidney were measured with 7 groups of animals: animals of group a were fed with riboflavin-deficient diet, animals in groups b-g were supplemented daily for a rat with 10μg of riboflavin (group b), CTC 5mg (group c), riboflavin 2μg plus CTC 5mg (group d), riboflavin 2μg plus CTC 10mg (group e), riboflavin 5μg plus CTC 10mg (group f), riboflavin 10μg plus CTC 10mg (group g). The results showed that CTC promotes the appearance of ariboflavinosis. As to the cause of this effect, it is noted that riboflavin and CTC act in competition with each other. This may be explained, at least partly, by the previously reported fact that CTC forms a complex with flavins and inhibits flavin enzyme in competition with the apoenzyme as studied by using D-amino acid oxidase.