Observations on Odoratism (Sweet Pea Lathyrism) in the Rat

Abstract

Hemoglobin levels, serum alkaline phosphatase levels and adrenal weights have been determined separately in male and in female rats receiving diets containing 50% sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) for 21 days. These values have been compared to those of rats pair-fed a 50% edible pea diet, to those of rats fed a 50% edible pea diet ad libitum, and to those of rats fed commercial stock rat diets. The levels of hemoglobin and of serum alkaline phosphatase appeared to be more dependent upon non-toxie variations in the diet and upon the nutritional status of the growing rat than upon the toxicity of the diet. It was concluded that an edible pea diet is a very inadequate control diet for a ration containing Lathyrus odoratus when investigations involving the determinations of the levels of certain constituents in the blood are to be made. Adrenal weights in male rats suffering from advanced odoratism were significantly greater than the adrenal weights of larger control animals of the same age. This was true whether the control animals were pair-fed with the experimental group or whether they received the control diet ad libitum. Adrenal weights in female rats suffering from advanced odoratism were not significantly different from adrenal weights of control animals of the same age. Adrenal weights per unit of body weight were significantly higher both in female and in male rats suffering from odoratism than those in control animals pair-fed with the experimental group or fed the control diets ad libitum. It is suggested that the effect of odoratism on the adrenals may be secondary to a disturbance in collagen metabolism.