TISSUE DISTRIBUTION AND METABOLISM OF THE LATHYRUS SATIVUS NEUROTOXIN, L‐3‐OXALYLAMINO‐2‐AMINOPROPIONIC ACID, IN THE SQUIRREL MONKEY

Abstract

Abstract– Although the L. sativus neurotoxin, L‐3‐oxalylamino‐2‐aminopropionic acid, is believed to cause neurological disease in humans, evidence that the toxin can enter the central nervous system except in animals with an immature or damaged blood‐brain barrier is lacking. Experiments described here suggest that an intraperitoneal dose of L‐3‐[ 14 C‐oxalyl]amino‐2‐aminopropionic acid enters the central nervous system of young squirrel monkeys ( Saimiri sciureus ) whose blood‐brain barrier is mature. Most of the radioactivity recovered from monkey urine and tissues 1 h after injection was unchanged toxin. None was recovered in expired air as radioactive carbon dioxide.