Influence of Diet, Sex, and Testosterone Propionate on the Toxicity of Monocrotaline in Rats.

Abstract

Male rats fed a moderately low protein diet were more susceptible than females, or than both sexes on a normal diet, to monocrotaline, an alkaloid causing hemorrhagic hepatic damage and other lesions. Rats of both sexes on still more deficient diets were as resistant as normal rats. Testosterone propionate increased the toxicity of monocrotaline for both sexes on the more deficient diet. These expts. suggest that the greater susceptibility of male rats to monocrotaline may be due to the metabolic effects of male sex hormones.