[Several indicators of protein and nucleic acid metabolism in lymphoid organs of rats exposed to hypokinesia and vitamin B1 deficiency].

Abstract

RNA, DNA, total protein, transketolase (TK), alanine aminotransferase (AlAT), aspartate aminotransferase (AsAT), methionyl-tRNA (met-tRNA)- and cysteinyl-tRNA (cys-tRNA)-synthetases in the thymus and spleen of 46 intact rats exposed to hypokinesia and vitamin B1 deficiency were measured. It was found that 15-day hypokinesia induced a significant decrease of the thymus and spleen weight and an increase of AlAT in the thymus. Vitamin B1 deficiency (hydroxy thiamine in drinking water at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight for 15 days) led to a substantial decrease of TK in blood, AlAT and AsAT in the spleen; it diminished AsAT and increased AlAT in the thymus. Combined exposure to hypokinesia and vitamin B1 deficiency caused a more marked decrease of the weight of lymph organs, a significant loss of body weight, an increase of DNA in the thymus and spleen, and an increase of TK, met-tRNA-synthetase and AlAT in the thymus. These results suggest that vitamin B1 deficiency aggravates disorders in protein and nucleic acid metabolism in the lymph organs of hypokinetic animals.