Effects of treatment with thiamin antagonists, oxythiamin and pyrithiamin and of thiamin excess of the levels and distribution of thiamin in rat tissues.

Levels of thiamin and its derivatives in brain, heart and liver were determined in control, thiamin-deficient, pyrithiamin-treated and oxythiamin-treated rats at various times after the start of treatment. With 10 micrograms of thiamin/100 g/day subcutaneously, rats rapidly lost thiamin from the tissues until growth maintenance levels were reached. Oxythiamin had a minimal further effect on tissue thiamin while pyrithiamin caused further marked reduction. With higher levels of thiamin intake, tissue thiamin levels increased with intakes of up to 150-200 micrograms/100 g/day after which they did not show any further significant increase. Levels of pyrithiamin above 50 microgram/100 g/day for 20 days had only minimal further effect upon tissue thiamin levels over that with 50 micrograms.