Evidence for the formation of 2-methylthiamine in nerve tissue

Rats and cats were injected with [³H]choline, [¹⁴C]choline or [³⁵S]thiamine. Choline and thiamine metabolites were extracted from different tissues by ion-pair extraction. Different Chromatographic techniques and the use of two separate precursors-choline and thiamine-showed that a fraction of the radioactivity was incorporated into a [³H]2-methylthiamine-like substance. A relationship was found between the amounts of radioactive acetylcholine and the 2-methylthiamine-like substance formed.