[Role of the vagus nerves in regulating the activity of the pentosephosphate carbohydrate metabolic pathway in the thymus and mesenteric lymph nodes].

Activity of key enzymes of pentosephosphate pathway glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and transketolase was similar in extracts of thymus and mesenteric lymphatic ganglia. Within four weeks after dissection of vagus nerve at the level of thyroid gland the specific activity of G6PD and the total activity of the enzymes metabolizing ribose-5-phosphate were not altered in the tissue studied. The transketolase activity was inhibited in thymus tissue and lymphoid cells after right-side vagotomy. The pH-dependence of the transketolase reaction was studied in thymus extracts. After vagotomy the enzymatic activity was lower at all the pH values as compared with controls; the enzyme optimum activity was found at pH 7.5-7.8.