Depletion of biotin from brain and liver in biotin deficiency

The effects of biotin deficiency on the metabolism of glucose (Bhagavan, Coursin and Dakshinamurti, 1965; Bhagavan, Maruyama and Coursin, 1967; Bhagavan, Coursin and Stewart, 1969) and central nervous system function (Bhagavan, Stewart, Dakshinamurti and Coursin, 1966; Stewart, Bhagavan, Coursin and Dakshinamurti, 1966; Stewart, Bhagavan and Coursin, 1967a, b; 1968) have already been reported. In a study of the biochemical changes in the brain and other tissues of the rat in biotin deficiency, the depletion of biotin from the brain and liver during the course of the deficiency has been followed. We found that while the liver lost over 90 per cent of its biotin, the depletion from the brain was only about 50 per cent after 8 weeks on the deficient diet. These data comprise the present report.