Experimental Lathyrism Produced by Feeding Singletary Pea (Lathyrus Pusillus) Seed

Abstract

The ingestion of diets containing 70% Singletary pea (Lathyrus pusillus) seed meal leads to the development of the symptoms usually associated with lathyrism. A deficiency within the ration is not the cause. The peas contain some toxic substance. The toxicity is not due to the presence of an enzyme or toxic inorganic material. The feeding of alpha-tocopherol in large doses confers some protection against the paralysis. This is not due to an anti-oxidant effect within the digestive tract. Divicine is not the material present which is responsible for the skeletal and muscular changes.