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Neuropathologic Studies of Acute and Chronic Thiamine Deficiencies and of Inanition¹

Department of Biochemistry, College of Agriculture, University of Wisconsin, Madison

1. There was a mild myelin degeneration in the peripheral nerves and in the spinal cord of the pigeons that had an acute thiamine deficiency. However, there was no evidence of any such degeneration in acute thiamine deficiency in chicks.

2. A mild myelin and axon degeneration was observed in the peripheral nerves and sometimes in the spinal cord of the pigeons and chicks which were maintained on a greatly restricted intake. These changes were more severe than those occurring in any acute deficiency produced in the pigeon.

3. Moderate degeneration occurred in the peripheral nerves and occasionally a mild degeneration in the spinal cord of the pigeons and chicks on a chronic thiamine deficiency. These changes were more severe than those occurring in inanition.

4. The pyruvic acid level of the blood of chronic thiamine deficient chicks was considerably higher than that of the controls. A slight increase in the pyruvic acid level of the sciatic nerve was detected but no change was observed in the gastrocnemius muscle.

These data do not warrant the conclusion that the neuropathology observed in a chronic thiamine deficiency can be attributed solely to a thiamine deficiency uncomplicated by other factors.

We are indebted to Merck and Co., Rahway, New Jersey, for supplies of crystalline vitamins and to Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois, for halibut liver oil and Klotogen.

Manuscript received 1 September 1944.