Dietary Protein and the Development of Rat Lathyrism

Abstract

Casein, casein hydrolyzates, lactalbumin and gelatin are effective in minimizing the growth depression and skeletal change induced by feeding Singletary pea seed to albino rats. Zein is not effective. Casein is also effective where low levels of β-aminopropionitrile are used as lathyrogenic agent. Diets containing casein exacerbate the paralytic effect of the seed so that a reversible paralysis is produced which does not involve spinal compression or other severe skeletal change. Methionine is the first limiting amino acid in the seed protein, but neither it nor any other of the essential amino acids can replace the effective protein supplements. It is suggested that the skeletal and growth effects of the effective proteins result from a reversal of an interference with amino acid metabolism; protein providing either a select group of amino acids or a specific peptide. The exacerbation of the specific paralytic effect is then caused by the stress of more normal growth combined with larger intake of toxin.