J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1976. 43:464-473.
© 1976 American Society of Animal Science
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Pyrrolidine Alkaloid Poisoning in Rats: Protective Effects of Dietary Cysteine1

G. W. Buckmaster2, P. R. Cheeke2,3 and L. R. Shull4 ,5,

Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331

To whom reprint requests should be addressed.

Abstract

The toxicity of the pyrrohzidine alkaloid-containing plants, Senecio jacobaea (tansy ragwort) and Senecio vulgaris (common grounsel), to rats was studied. Groundsel contained .206% alkaloid (% of dry matter) and tansy ragwort contained .181% of alkaloid. Survival time was less (P<.05) for rats fed 5% groundsel in the diet than for rats fed 5% tansy ragwort. At equivalent doses, the alkaloid isolated from groundsel was more toxic when injected intraperitoneally than the alkaloid from tansy ragwort. In three experiments with growing rats, the inclusion of 1% dietary cysteine had partial protective activity against dietary tansy ragwort. Survival time was increased (P<.01) in rats fed cysteine; 1% methionine was without effect. Measurements of growth rate, total serum protein, serum albumin, and liver weight indicated a partial protective effect of dietary cysteine. The toxicity of injected tansy ragwort alkaloid was reduced in rats fed 1% cysteine, as assessed by % mortality within 7 days post-injection. The results suggest that dietary cysteine has protective activity against pyrrolidine alkaloid toxicity in rats.

Footnotes

1 Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Paper No. 4151.

2 Department of Animal Science.

4 Present address: Department of Dairy Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing.

5 The gas chromatographic-mass spectral analysis of the alkaloid preparations by M. L. Deinzer, Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Oregon State University is acknowledged and appreciated.






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