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Growth Response and Vitamin B₁₂ Tissue Levels in Vitamin B₁₂-Deficient Rats and Chicks Fed Riboflavin, 5,6-Dimethylbenzimidazole and Related Compounds¹

Departments of Nutrition and Microbiology, Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., Nutley, N. J.

1. Several synthetic compounds were tested for their growth-promoting ability in rats and chicks maintained on vitamin B₁₂-deficient diets. The compound 1--D-ribofuranosido-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole was found to be most potent. Among the other compounds possessing activity were 1-ß-D-ribofuranosido-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole, riboflavin, 1(1'-D-ribityl)-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole, 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole, 1,2-dimethyl-4-amino-5-ribitylaminobenzene, and 1,2-diamino-4,5-dimethylbenzene.

2. The livers and kidneys of rats and chicks fed vitamin B₁₂-low diets supplemented with a variety of compounds containing the 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole moiety were assayed for vitamin B₁₂ content. Only those animals fed vitamin B₁₂ had appreciable stores of this vitamin in the kidneys and livers.

3. There appeared to be no consistent correlation between growth and tissue stores of vitamin B₁₂ when the chicks were fed several synthetic compounds.

4. Digestion of tissues with pancreatin or trypsin prior to assay results in markedly elevated vitamin B₁₂ assays. However, there is also an increase in microbiologically-active material not destroyed by boiling in 0.2 N NaOH for one-half hour.

Manuscript received 6 August 1951.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. G. UNGLAUB, G. A. GOLDSMITH, and J. GIBBENS RECENT ADVANCES IN NUTRITION AND METABOLISM: II. Review of the Literature on Vitamins, 1952 Arch Intern Med, October 1, 1954; 94(4): 618 - 647. [Abstract] [PDF]