Carbohydrate metabolism in birds

Abstract

IN a recent paper [Kinnersley and Peters, 1929] it was shown that opisthotonus symptoms due to avitaminosis B1 in pigeons were associated with an increase of lactic acid in the brain.The provisional conclusion was reached that the increased lactic acid was specifically due to lack of vitamin B1 in the brain.If this conclusion be true, not only does it provide cogent evidence for the relation between vitamin B1 and some phase of carbohydrate metabolism, but we feel that it is evidence of chemical change underlying the activity of the central nervous system.We have therefore analysed the problem further.It was conceivable that the changes in the brain were merely due to a general increase of lactic acid throughout the tissues.If this compound was present especially in one region of the brain, it would show that there was no direct relation between the increased blood-lactic acid and that in the brain.Further, it would be suggestive evidence for a correlation of the symptoms with a localised chemical abnormality and would indicate the portion of the brain responsible for them.Some preliminary experiments upon this question have already been published [Kinnersley and Peters, 1930].