Nucleic acid and protein contents, and incorporation of L-[U-14C] leucine into proteins of brain and liver in biotin-deficient rats
Bhagavan, H.N.; Coursin, D.B.
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research. Internationale Zeitschrift für Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal International de Vitaminologie et de Nutrition 44(3): 363-369
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9831 PMID: 4459288 Document Number: 74221
Biotin deficiency was induced in weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats by a diet with 20% raw egg white and no added biotin. After 6 to 7 weeks on the diet, when they had typical signs of biotin deficiency, the rats were killed and brains and livers were removed. Biotin deficiency caused a significant reduction in bodyweight and in liver and brain weight but DNA concentration, protein concentration and protein:DNA ratio in brain and liver were unaffected although total DNA content fell. Incorporation of L-leucine-U-14C in vivo into proteins was significantly reduced in brain and in liver of deprived rats but the percentage of injected dose incorporated into brain tissue was significantly higher in the deprived rats. Total redioactivity (DPM)/g tissue, protein DPM/g and ratio of protein DPM to total DPM all fell significantly in brain, but not in liver, of deprived rats. Total radioactivity in blood was significantly less in animals deprived of biotin.