Abstract
Summary
Pyridine alone or pyridine supplemented with either choline, cystine, methionine, nicotinamide or beta-picoline was fed to young rats on a high protein diet. Livers from rats dying from the effects of pyridine are enlarged and always exhibit a marked increase in water content. Livers from apparently healthy animals which have been on a pyridine diet show a nearly normal water content and are enlarged. Cystine and methionine afford protection against the effects of pyridine. The feeding of quinoline alone or quinoline supplemented with either choline, cystine, or methionine produced enlarged livers. Cystine and methionine increased survival time. Choline showed some protective effect. Cystine or methionine prevented the accumulation of water in the livers of rats fed quinoline. Choline had no effect.
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