Composition of Myelin Lipids and Synthesis of 3‐ketodihydrosphingosine in the Vitamin B₆‐deficient Developing Rat¹

Recoverable myelin in 20‐day‐old, Vitamin B 6 ‐deficient rats was reduced from that in control animals. The composition of myelin lipids from deficient animals was nearly identical to that for controls except for a striking reduction in phospholipids polyunsaturated fatty acids. Enzymatic synthesis in vitro of 3‐ketodihydrosphingosine was impaired in the deficient animals; addition of the vitamin Bs cofactor to these incubation mixtures restored activity of the condensing enzyme to control levels.