Protective Action of Glutamine,Cysteine and Other Substances Against Experimental Lathyrism in the Rat

Abstract

Conclusions

Of a wide variety of supplements tested for their protective action against development of skeletal deformities in rats fed sweet peas or β-aminopropionitrile, none gave complete protection. Only L-eysteine-HCl, L-glutamine; and proteins were partially protective. Of the proteins tried, casein, gelatin, lactalbumin and casein hydrolysate gave some protection; zein did not. The protective action of glutamine may be related to its probable role in chondroitin sulfate and mucopolysaccharide synthesis.

Note added in press. Experiments completed since this paper was submitted for publication indicate that the protection afforded by L-cysteine-HCl is prolonged if the diet is made up fresh weekly. Under these conditions the protection against development of skeletal changes was greater with cysteine than with glutamine. The decreased protective activity of L-cysteine in an aging diet is probably due to a gradual loss of cysteine because of the lability of its sulfhydryl group.