Erythrocyte transketolase activity and the percentage stimulation by thiamin pyrophosphate as criteria of thiamin status in the pig

The effect of nitrofurazone on the thiamin status of chickens

Nitrofurazone, given orally at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg for seven days, decreased the activity of erythrocyte transketolase (TK) and increased the activation of TK by thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP effect %). Nitrofurazone also decreased the feed intake and growth of the chickens, and increased the concentrations of lactate and pyruvate of their blood. It was concluded that nitrofurazone has induced thiamin deficiency in the treated birds. Pair-feeding experiments showed that the decreased growth was due to anorexia, and that the effects produced by nitrofurazone treatment on the thiamin status were attributable to the drug, per se, and not to anorexia. Thiamin (100 micrograms/kg, injected subcutaneously), when given concomitantly with nitrofurazone, was effective in preventing the development of thiamin deficiency.

Studies on the nutrition of marine flatfish. The thiamin requirement of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

1. Seven groups of young turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) were given diets containing graded levels of thiamin (0-19--50 mg/kg) for 16 weeks and their growth rate was measured during this period. 2. Good growth was obtained on all these treatments except in the group given the lowest dietary thiamin level (0-19 mg/kg). These fish grew normally until the 12th week but thereafter their weight did not increase. 3. Measurements of erythrocyte transketolase (sedoheptulose-7-phosphate: D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate glycolaldehydetransferase; EC 2.2.1.1) activity at the end of the experiment and of percentage stimulation of erythrocyte transketolase by thiamin pyrophosphate indicated that the apoenzyme was saturated with coenzyme at a dietary thiamin level of 2-6 mg/kg, but not at 1-1 mg/kg. 4. An 8th group of turbot given the thiamin antagonist pyrithiamin (40 mg/kg diet) grew normally for 6 weeks. Thereafter mortalities began to occur and all fish died by the 10th week. No clear-cut signs of thiamin deficiency were observed. 5. The dietary thiamin requirement of turbot is much lower than published requirements of freshwater fish other than carp (Cyprinus carpio) and appears to be between 0-6 and 2-6 mg/kg diet.