Intracellular distribution of vitamins B12 and vitamin B12 coenzyme (5,6 dimethylbenzimidazole cobamide) in normal and injured rat liver

ABSTRACT

Our study on the intracellular distribution of B12 and DBC on a normal and injured liver following the administration of these labelled test materials show that (1) with increasing interval, the pattern of distribution of these two closely related compounds in the various cellular fractions will simulate each other; (2) chromatography of B12 and DBC obtained from soluble fractions exhibited nearly identical Rf values; both findings lend support to our belief that the conversion of vitamin B12 to 5,6 dimethylbenzimidazole cobamide coenzyme took place; (3) in an injured liver, the initial uptake of either B12 or DBC activity is significantly different from the uptake, in almost all cellular fractions, of an intact liver; however, with prolonged interval, the pattern of distribution of B12 and DBC among the individual fractions will eventually be identical. (Summary)