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Alanine Aminotransferase Activity in Liver and Erythrocytes of Pregnant and Nonpregnant Rats Fed Different Levels of Pyridoxine^1,2,

Foods and Nutrition Department, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana 47907

The use of alanine aminotransferase activity in the assessment of pyridoxine requirements of pregnant and nonpregnant rats was studied. A 25% casein diet containing 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 800 or 8000 µg pyridoxine per 10 or 15 g diet for nonpregnant and pregnant rats, respectively, was fed ad libitum for 4 weeks beginning 1 week prior to mating. In a second experiment 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 µg of vitamin were incorporated similarly into the diets which were fed from weaning to 4 months of age. The levels of pyridoxine per 10 and 15 g diet approximated daily intake of vitamin per rat. Successful reproductive performance was supported by an intake of 15 µg pyridoxine per day or more. No adverse effects of the high levels of intake were evident. An intake of 20 µg or more of the vitamin daily was needed for maximal alanine aminotransferase activity in liver and erythrocytes of pregnant animals. Activity in erythrocytes was less affected by the pregnancy state than that in liver. The failure of liver or erythrocyte activities to change when the level of pyridoxine intake was greater than 20 µg daily suggested that the regulation of activity was operative when intakes ranged from 20 to 8000 µg.

² Part of these data was presented at the meeting of the American Institute of Nutrition, Atlantic City, New Jersey, April 1970, Federation Proc. 29: 823 (abstr.).

³ Present address: Department of Nutrition and Foods, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama.

⁴ Present address: Division of Nutritional Biochemistry, Department of Animal Science, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois.

Manuscript received 23 July 1970.