Abstract
ALTHOUGH an association between β-aminopropionitrile derivatives and osteolathyrism of experimental animals seems well established1, there is less certainty concerning the nature of toxic substances present in Lathyrus species responsible for human neurolathyrism2. Acute neurological manifestations are produced in some laboratory animals by L-α,γ-diaminobutyric acid (present in numerous Lathyrus species, but not in L. sativus)3,4, by β-cyano-L-alanine (present in Vicia sativa and V. angustifolia, possible contaminants of L. sativus)5 and by (β-N-oxalyl-L-α,β-diaminopropionic acid (recently isolated from L. sativus)6. The degree of susceptibility to these toxic agents varies between different animal species, and it has yet to be demonstrated whether these substances do, in fact, produce human lathyrism. Nevertheless, in view of the potent effects of many relatively simple amino-acids on mammalian central neurones7, these lathyrus factors are of considerable interest. Consequently an investigation has been made of the action of these and related compounds on single nerve cells of cats anaesthetized with pentobarbitone.
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WATKINS, J., CURTIS, D. & BISCOE, T. Central Effects of β-N-Oxalyl-α,β-diaminopropionic Acid and other Lathyrus Factors. Nature 211, 637 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/211637a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/211637a0
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