Abstract
The distribution of riboflavin in normal organism was studied both phylogenically and ontogenically using histochemical techniques. Further the change of the distribution of the vitamin was observed on pathological materials of human corpses and on the animals poisoned experimentally with carbon tetrachloride. Following findings were obtained:
1. Marked differences in the distribution of riboflavin were observed according to the species and individuals of the animals tested.
2. There was specific distribution of the vitamin was observed according to the species of the animals. This specificity was discussed from the point of organ phylogenesis.
3. The vitamin was most abundantly detected in the organs with vigorous enzymatic activities in higher animals.
4. Observing ontogenically, definitely less vitamin was found in the materials of early fetal life. The vitamin increased gradually with the lapse of fetal life, especially marked in the end of pregnancy, but definitely less than after birth.
5. Observation on human corpse of sudden death revealed the same distribution pattern as found in normal mammals.
6. Changes of the distribution pattern of the vitamin in pathological cases, especially in liver cirrhosis were described and pointed out the disturbance of phosphorylation of the vitamin.
7. After giving carbon tetrachloride, a poison for various enzymes of citric acid cycle, reduction in the uptake of the vitamin was detected. Its cause was ascribed to the decrease of absorbability of the intestine, reduction of the uptake of the vitamin and of the phosphorylating activity in the liver and disturbance of the reabsorption of the vitamin from the epithelium of renal tubuli.
