[Biochemical changes in the rat immunocompetent organs during oxythiamine involution of the thymus]

Oxythiamine injections to rats (400 mg/kg of body mass, subcutaneously, 2 injections with 48 hrs interval) caused 70% involution of thymus within 72 hrs after the first injection. The transketolase activity was inhibited by 70%, that of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase by 15%, while the aldopentose level was decreased by 56% in the thymus. Inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis was directly dependent on the dose and duration of the oxythiamine effect on the gland. Reduction of transketolase activity was accompanied by an adaptive; increase in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity as well as by a decrease in levels of nicotinamide coenzymes (NAD, NADP) in spleen.