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Intestinal Synthesis of Biotin in the Rat¹

Effect of Deficiencies of Certain B Vitamins and of Sulfasuxadine and Terramycin

Department of Animal Husbandry, State College of Washington, Pullman

1. The microbiological synthesis of biotin in the intestinal tract of the rat, as measured by direct balance studies, was inhibited about one-half when succinylsulfathiozole was added to a purified diet at a 2% level.

2. Biotin synthesis was found to be diminished when the diet was free of riboflavin, niacin and pantothenic acid. The excretion of non-dietary biotin was lower both in total amount and when calculated in micrograms per gram (dry weight) of excreta eliminated during the trials.

3. The total amount of biotin synthesized by the intestinal flora of rats suffering a thiamine deficiency was diminished. The amount excreted per gram of excreta, however, was comparable to that of the control lot. It was concluded that, in this case, the lowering of the excretion of non-dietary biotin was caused by the anorexia of the thiamine deficiency and the resulting smaller amount of material excreted, and was not a direct effect of the vitamin deficiency upon the synthesizing microflora.

4. A pyridoxine deficiency caused no significant change in either the total biotin excreted or in the quantity excreted per gram of excreta during the trial.

5. Terramycin added to the biotin-free diet diminished the synthesis of biotin to an extent similar to 2% sulfasuxadine; and the combination of both terramycin and sulfasuxadine lowered the synthesis to about 1 µg/day, indicating separate inhibiting action.

6. When starch replaced sucrose, there was an increased synthesis of biotin in the intestinal tract.

Scientific Paper 1235, Washington Agricultural Experiment Stations, Pullman. Project 1041.

Manuscript received 22 June 1953.