Liver and erythrocyte L-aspartate : and L-alanine : 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferases of the pyridoxine-deficient rat

Abstract

The withdrawal of pyridoxine from the diet of male weanling rats did not appear to affect the liver mitochondrial L-aspartate : 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, but the isoenzymes in the liver supernatant and in the erythrocyte showed gradual lowering of activity. The liver L-alanine : 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase activity (mostly residing in the supernatant) showed a sharp and immediate decline, and that of the erythrocyte exhibited a more gradual decline with the progress of deficiency.The liver supernatant and erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferases of the deficient animals showed a marked recovery with subcutaneous injection of pyridoxine and in vitro addition of pyridoxal-5-phosphate to the enzyme system. The data emphasize the sensitivity of the supernatant and erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferases in reflecting the pyridoxine nutritional state of the rat.