Osteolathyrogenic Action of Mercaptoethylamine and of Cystamine.

Abstract

Beta-mercaptoethylamine (cysteamine) and cystamine, when fed to weanling rats as their hydrochlorides, produced gross skeletal lesions similar to those produced by sweet peas or the osteolathyrogenic nitriles. Aortic damage was less severe, no evidence of dissection or aneurysm formation being observed. Microscopically, lesions of the periosteum, epiphyseal cartilage and aortic media were similar to those produced by beta-aminopropionitrile. These substances showed a narrower range of osteolathyrogenic activity than the nitriles, a dietary level of 0.2% cystamine-2 HC1 causing only very slight spinal curvatures, while a level of 0.5% was rapidly lethal to most animals.