Therapeutic Activity of Xanthopterin Added to p-Aminobenzoylglutamic Acid in Experimental Macrocytic Anemia of Rat.

Conclusions (1) Chronic folic acid deficiency was induced in rats with a highly purified diet containing 1% streptomycin. (2) Xanthopterin causes a small increase in the number of erythrocytes but does not alter the color index or leukopenia. (3) P-aminobenzoylglutamic acid has no effect on the hematological picture resulting from a chronic deficiency of folic acid in the rat. (4) The simultaneous parenteral administration of amounts of xanthopterin and p-amino-benzoylglutamic acid in the same molecular ratio existing in folic acid, has a complete and specific therapeutic activity almost as rapid as that of folic acid. (5) This indicates that rats can synthesize folic acid from simultaneously administered xanthopterin and p-aminobenzoylglutamic acid.