Effect of Indole Compounds on Vitamin B12 Utilization

By JERRY DREXLER A DEFINITE RELATIONSHIP has never been established between indole metabolism and the megoloblastic anemias. Rhoads and associates”2 were able to produce a hemolytic-like anemia with many features of pernicious anemia, in dogs on vitamin B deficient diets, by the oral administration of pure indole. Interestingly, the relief of this anemia by oral feeding of liver extract was accompanied by a reticulocytosis.2 In dogs on well balanced diets, the administration of a similar amount of pure indole caused a well defined increase in bilirubin excretion, and massive doses of indole caused a severe anemia. T#{246}nnisand Horster, cited by Rhoads and Miller,2 reported the occurrence of indicanuria and anemia in dogs with surgically formed, inactive, open jejunal segments, and the relief of the anemia after the administration of liver extract. These investigations suggested the possibility that indole compounds might produce anemia by affecting the utilization of some hematopoietic factor. The purpose of the present study is to describe the effect of indole compounds on the utilization of vitamin B12 by a vitamin-dependent microorganism.