1. In addition to the strains known as carotene producers, Pen. sclerotiorum, Pen. multicolor, Pen. lapidosum, and Rhizoctonia zeae were found to be new carotene producers, and carotenoid pigments produced by these fungus strains were identified and determined.
2. Pen. sclerotiorum NRRL 2074, the best carotene producer, was investigated on its culture condition in some detail, and its carotene content was enhanced up to 1.85mg total carotene per gram dry mat. Particularly, low pH value of culture medium (pH=2±0.25), and addition of nitrogen-containing methyl donor, e.g., betaine and choline, into the medium, were found to stimulate its carotene production remarkably.
3. The stereochemical and spectral properties of the carotenoid and its biosynthetic pathway were discussed.

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OMP and pyridoxine were each injected into the white of fertile white Leghorn eggs and the liver, kidney and thymus of the chick embryos were histopathologically examined on the 12th, 15th and 18th day of incubation and the following results were obtained.
1. Findings in the Liver-In OMP groups, fat appearance was observed on the 12th and 15th day of incubation. It was not marked, when pyridoxine was combined with OMP. The fat appearance was recovered on the 18th day of incubation. Necrobiosis of the liver cells and capillary hyperemia were also marked in OMP groups. Fat appeared also in vitamin B₆ group.
2. Findings in the Kidney-Hyperemia in glomeruli and regressive changes in the epithelia of the urinary tubules were observed in OMP groups.
3. Findings in the Thymus-In both OMP groups and vitamin B₆ group, anisocytosis, non-stainability and nucleus pycnosis of thymicolymphatic cells were detected, whereas no atrophy of the organ was observed.

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The effect of vitamin B₆ on experimental carcinogenesis in rats by dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB) was studied and the following results were obtained.
1. Carcinogenesis by DAB was highest and the pathological changes were severest in the group receiving an excessive dose of vitamin B₆. The rate of carcinogenesis was higher in the group receiving excess pyridoxamine than with excess pyridoxine.
2. The rate of carcinogenesis is higher in vitamin B₆-deficient group, compared to the control, but its mechanism is considered to differ from that in excess vitamin B₆ group.
3. By loading with DAB, the lymphocytes in the peripheral blood showed a slight rise after 1-2 months, followed by a sharp fall after 3-4 months. Lymphocytes containing a small number of mitochondria gradually rose with time. This is especially pronounced in the animal given excess vitamin B₆ showing a trend of carcinogenesis of the individuals.
4. The catalase activity of both liver and blood decreased by the administration of DAB. It was most pronounced when excess vitamin B₆ was given.
It is clear that excess vitamin B₆ enhances DAB liver carcinogenesis, but it also enhances the growth of the tumor. Contrary to the previous reports, carcinogenesis was rather high in vitamin B₆ deficiency and it was lowest when an appropriate amount of vitamin B₆ was given. It is believed to be a fact of great importance.

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A simple preparation method of P³²-labeled FAD following injection of P³²-phosphate and FMN in rabbits was investigated. Hydrolysis of P³²-FAD thus obtained results in the production of P³²-FMN. In this case the phosphor of FMN has probably been exchanged for P³². It can be understood by the reversibility of the reaction: Riboflavin+PO₄^3-⇔FMN. Although the ratio of incorporation of P³² into FAD is very low, the radioactivity of the P³²-FAD thus obtained is strong enough to be used for biochemical experiments. The P³²-FMN obtained from P³²-FAD was utilized for investigation of riboflavin metabolism in vivo and the mechanism of riboflavin photolysis.

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The changes in the B₁₂ levels of the serum and liver of the rabbits having received repeated injections of CCl₄ were determined. Each time after the first two or three injections with the intervals of 7-10 days the elevation of the serum B₁₂ levels were observed, but after further injections the elevation did not occur, continuing to decline to pre-treatment levels. After a pause of three weeks the elevation occurred again after the first two injections, but it was only slight, no further elevation being observed by further CCl₄ injections. Even 70 days after the beginning of the experiment no persistent high level of the serum B₁₂ was found. The B₁₂ content of the liver of the rabbits repeatedly injected with CCl₄ fell to almost a quarter of that of untreated animals.

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1. Total AsA levels in blood were determined in 111 female subjects using dinitrophenyl hydrazine (DNP) method. The values were 0.2-1.4mg/100ml, averaging 0.76mg/100ml.
2. Urinary excretions of AsA of these subjects had a definite correlation with the blood levels. The urinary excretions, however, sometimes abnormally increased when the blood levels exceeded 1mg/100ml.
3. Blood AsA levels showed maximum values (1.16-1.36mg/100ml) following successive oral administration of 300mg of ascorbic acid for 3-5 days. These values showed individual differences.
4. The rise of blood levels after administration of the vitamin was rapid in the case of a subcutaneous injection, but slow in the case of oral administration. The urinary excretions showed the maximum values after 1, 1-2, and 4 hours respectively following intravenous, subcutaneous and oral administrations and the excretion ratios after arriving the saturation state were about 70, 50-90, and 45 per cent, respectively.
5. The ratios of urinary excretion after loading with the vitamin were directly proportional to the blood levels of the vitamin. The AsA values obtained by DNP method are therefore considered to be suitable for expressing the nutritional state of vitamin C.

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