Vitamin B2 metabolism in the isolated perfused rat liver.

An investigation on vitamin B2 (V.B2) metabolism was undertaken, using perfused livers isolated from 1. normal rats, 2. riboflavin deficient rats, 3. choline deficient rats with fatty cirrhtic livers, and 4. alloxan diabetic rats, without the effect of extrahepatic factors. From the results, it was concluded that phosphorylation of V.B2 was performed in the liver, and was remarkably reduced in fatty cirrhosis. Moreover, in alloxan diabetic liver, the affected phosphorylation of V.B2 was improved by the infusion of insulin. The important role that liver performs on V.B2 metabolism, can be emphasized from these findings.