ANEURINE (thiamine) 



and then with different levels of aneurine, those on the lowest level 

 were protected. Monkeys (Macaca mulatto) showed no increase in 

 resistance to poliomyelitis virus when deficient in aneurine,*^ and 

 aneurine deficiency had no significant effect on susceptibility to 

 influenza virus. *° 



Vitamin Bj-deficient rats are said to be more susceptible than 

 normal animals to rat leprosy,^^ whilst rats rendered deficient in 

 aneurine or riboflavine have been claimed to be less resistant to 

 infection with the worm, Nippostrongylus muris.*^ Plasma from an 

 aneurine- (or riboflavine-) deficient animal did not give such adequate 

 protection as did immune plasma from normally fed animals. 



A moderate impairment in the antibody response to inoculation 

 with human erythrocytes was observed in aneurine-deficient rats.^^** 



Other Animals 



The phalanger, Trichosurus vulpicula, appears to be unique in 

 being able to synthesise aneurine/'^ though in the light of work on 

 intestinal synthesis published since the appearance of this suggestion, 

 it must not be concluded that this animal is capable of S5mthesising 

 the vitamin in the actual tissues or body fluids. 



Vitamin B^ deficiency in pigs follows the same general pattern as 

 in rats, and the main symptoms are anorexia, vomiting, dyspnoea, 

 cyanosis and general weakness. ^^' ^^ Cardiac dilatation without hyper- 

 trophy occurs, together with a local and diffuse myocardial necrosis. ^^ 

 Neurological symptoms, however, are absent. ^i' ^* The blood shows 

 increased pyruvate. ^^ The symptoms are cured by administration of 

 about 125 mg. of aneurine per 100 g. of carbohydrate plus protein. ^^ 

 The aneurine content of the blood is directly related to the proportion 

 in the diet and the muscle tissue ; it increased within a week from 21 

 to 30 /xg. per 100 g. when the diet was supplemented by 25 to 50 mg. 

 of aneurine per day.^^ Deposition of aneurine in the tissues is de- 

 pendent on the dietary intake. ^^ pjgg rapidly store supplementary 

 doses of aneurine in the muscle tissue, the effect being detectable 

 within eight days of feeding an additional 50 mg. per day. Maximum 

 storage occurred within thirty-five days and beyond this period no 

 further increase occurred.^' Owing to storage of aneurine, pigs can 

 be maintained for about three months on an aneurine-deficient diet 

 before loss of appetite occurs. ^^ 



Vitamin Bj-deficient dogs show tachycardia, hypotension and 

 changes in the electrocardiogram,^^ and these disappear on adminis- 

 tration of aneurine. The pyruvic acid content of the blood is increased 

 and the lactate-pyruvate ratio is decreased. ®® Administration of 

 alcohol to vitamin Bi-deficient dogs decreased the pyruvate and 



52 



