REAPPRAISAL OF REGIONAL THIAMINE CONTENT IN THE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM OF THE NORMAL AND THIAMINE-DEFICIENT MICE

The regional distribution of thiamine and its phosphate esters was mea sured in the central nervous system (CNS) of normal and thiamine-defic ient mice. Twelve small areas were punched out from frozen sections an d they were individually analyzed by high performance liquid chromatog raphy (HPLC). Regional difference was noted in both the content and ra tio of thiamine and its phosphate esters in the normal CNS. In pyrithi amine-induced thiamine deficiency, thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) conten t in all the areas was reduced to less than 13% of the control values on day 10, when the neurological signs developed. Although there were considerable regional variations in the reduction rate of thiamine and its phosphate esters, rio correlation was established between the sev erity of tissue damage and the magnitude of thiamine reduction in indi vidual areas. These results indicate that a derangement in TPP-depende nt processes, either alone or in combination with other factors, plays a more critical role in the neuronal damage under thiamine deficiency than depletion of thiamine compounds per se.