Experimental Lathyrism Produced by Feeding Singletary Pea (Lathyrus Pusillus) Seed
Jordan G. Lee
Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Biochemistry, Louisian State University, Baton Rouge
1. The ingestion of diets containing 70% Singletary pea (Lathyruspusillus) seed meal leads to the development of the symptomsusually associated with lathyrism.
2. A deficiency withinthe ration is not the cause. The peascontain some toxic substance.
3. The toxicity is not due to the presence of an enzyme ortoxicinorganic material.
4. The feeding of alpha-tocopherolin large doses confers someprotection against the paralysis.This is not due to an anti-oxidanteffect within the digestivetract.
5. Divicine is not the material present which is responsiblefor the skeletal and muscular changes.