Serum C3 content in vitamin B (12) -deficient rats
Wada, M.; Kawata, T.; Yamada, K.; Funada, U.; Kuwamori, M.; Endo, M.; Tanaka, N.; Tadokoro, T.; Maekawa, A.
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research. Internationale Zeitschrift für Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal International de Vitaminologie et de Nutrition 68(2): 94-97
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9831 PMID: 9565823 Document Number: 488401
As a clue to clarifying the role of vitamin B12 (B12) in the function of the complement system, serum C3 content was determined in B12-deficient rats, and the effect of the administration of methylcobalamin (CH3-B12) on the serum C3 content was also studied. It was found that the serum C3 content in rats fed on a vitamin B12-deficient diet for 90 and 120 days significantly decreased compared with that in control rats. The administration of CH3-B12) restored the serum C3 content to control levels. The above results indicate that B12-deficiency depressed the serum C3 content and lowered humoral immunocompetence, and that these changes were ascribable to B12-deficiency.