X. EFFECTS OF DEFICIENCY 275 



more severe in tliose monkeys which had been longer on the deficient diet. 

 The lesions were prominent in the coronary arteries, as well as in those of 

 the kidneys and the pancreas. Ad\'anced changes were found in the arteries 

 of the testicle of one animal. The authors stated that "it was somewhat 

 surprising to see an advanced arteriosclerosis in the vessels of an immature 

 testis." 'i'he .sclerotic lesions produced in the ^■itamin Br,-deficiont monkeys 

 clo.sely resembled those of man. 



The arteriosclerotic lesions appear to l)e a specific characteristic of a 

 pyridoxine deficiency, for no such lesions were ob.served in rhesus monkeys 

 that were thiamine deficient. ^'^ 



The subcutaneous injection of desoxypyridoxine induced a microcytic 

 anemia, leucopenia, and lymphopenia." The blood-forming constituents 

 and the fat of the femoral marrow were reduced; the adrenal glands were 

 also affected, as in dogs. 



7. Birds 



Jukes®'' reported that deficient chicks showed nervous symptoms, charac- 

 terized by convulsive movements. Lepkovsky and Kratzer^" have described 

 three stages of the pyridoxine deficiency syndrome. In stage 1, there was an 

 abnormal excitability; in stage 2, the chick exhibited jerky conxailsive 

 mo\'ements; in stage 3, con\ailsions occurred. These convulsions appeared 

 after about 12 days on the deficient diet; rats require 4 to G months for 

 similar symptoms to appear. Growth is retarded and is accompanied by 

 anorexia and extreme weakness. It is significant that the apyridoxic chick 

 does not de\'elop any dermatitis. Other symptoms of the deficiency include 

 hyperthrombinemia, decreased clotting time,®^ hypoplasia of the spleen, 

 lymphoid atrophy,"" and lowered egg production and hatchability.^" 



Turkeys de\'elop nervous disorders on a \'itamin Be-deficient diet, charac- 

 terized bj' con\iilsive seizures, but they do not develop any anemia.®^ 



Severe pyridoxine deficiency in young white Pekiii ducklings is character- 

 ized bj' a very rapid cessation of growth and severe anemia.^-' A chronic 

 x'itamin Be deficiency m older ducklings caused lack of growth, poor feather- 

 ing, paralysis, con\iilsions, and severe microcytic anemia (low hemoglobin, 



" J. F. Riiiehart, L. D. Gieenberg, and L. D. Giiizton, Blood 3, 1453 (1948). 



»■ T. H. Jukes, Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med. 42, 180 (1939). 



" S. Lcpkovsk}- ami F. H. Kratzer, J. X id n't ion 24, 515 (1942). 



9«T. 1). Luc-key, G. M. Briggs, C. \. Klvehjem, and K. B. Hart, Proc. Soc. Exptl. 



Biol. Med. 58, 340 (1945). 

 »' W. W. Cravens, E. E. Sebesta, J. G. Halpin, and I]. B. Hart, I'oitltrt/ Sri. 25, SO 



(1946). 

 *' F. II. Bird, F. II. Kratzer, V. S. Asnuindson, and S. Lepkitv.-iky, Proc. Soc. Exptl. 



Biol. Med. 52, 44 (1943). 

 •" D. .M. Hegsted an<l M. X. Hao, ./. .\nl,il,„u 30. 3(37 (1945). 



