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The Effects of Pyridoxine Deficiency on some Physiological Factors of Importance in Resistance to Infection

Division of Bacteriology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Male white rats were maintained on a well-defined diet deficient in pyridoxine, and various physiological factors of resistance to infection were studied. Adequate inanition- and ad libitum-control animals were included. The following physiological factors were studied:

(1) cellular composition of the peripheral blood;

(2) complement activity;

(3) cellular migration in inflammation;

(4) cellular composition of the exudate in inflammation;

(5) "leukotaxine" activity, and

(6) cellular composition of bone marrow.

The following observations were made:

(1) No change was noted in the total erythrocyte count in the peripheral blood of the vitamin-deficient, inanition-, and ad libitum-control animals. A microcytosis was observed in the blood of pyridoxine-deficient rats. The lack of pyridoxine, and not the concomitant inanition, produced a leucopenia in the deficient rats.

(2) Differential cell counts of the blood of pyridoxine-deficient rats showed a percentage increase in polymorphonuclear leucocytes and a percentage decrease in lymphocytes.

(3) Complement activity in the sera of pyridoxine deficient rats was less than in either inanition or ad libitum controls.

(4) Cellular migration to an inflamed area was reduced in pyridoxine-deficient and inanition-control animals as compared with ad libitum controls.

(5) Relative granulocytosis and lymphopenia were observed in the exudates of inanition controls as compared with ad libitum controls. Exudates of pyridoxine-deficient rats demonstrated relative granulocytosis and lymphopenia, both of which were more marked than corresponding changes in inanition controls.

(6) No alteration in capillary permeability, as measured by the Menkin dye-accumulation technique, was noted in any group.

(7) Relative granulocytosis and lymphopenia were observed in the bone marrow of inanition controls as compared with ad libitum controls. Bone marrow of pyridoxine-deficient rats demonstrated relative granulocytosis and lymphopenia both of which were more marked than corresponding changes in inanition controls.