Cocarboxylase in Experimental Diabetes

IN previous experiments we have found that the injection of cocarboxylase causes, in the alloxandiabetic rat, a diminution of the blood sugar and an increase of the respiratory quotient and of tissue glycogen. Thiamine produces similar effects; however, with severely affected animals it fails to act 1,2 . The hypothesis was then advanced that, in severe alloxan diabetes, thiamine does not produce any effect because its conversion to cocarboxylase is prevented. We have now obtained some evidence in support of this hypothesis.