PROTECTION BY DIETARY ASCORBATE OF GUINEA-PIGS FROM NEUROLATHYRISM

The protection afforded by dietary vitamin C from the toxic effects of intraperitoneal injection of an aqueous solution of an air-dried etha nol extract of Lathyrus sativus peas is demonstrated in guinea pigs fe d an ascorbate-fortified diet in contrast to those fed a diet devoid o f vitamin C. Weakness and flaccid paraparesis occurred in most of the ascorbate-depleted animals, whereas all guinea pigs on the ascorbate-s upplemented diet remained active and appeared well following injection of the extract. These results extend previous work on the role of die tary ascorbate in the protection of guinea pigs from neurolathyrism. I n particular, spastic paralysis in some ascorbate-depleted guinea pigs is reported for the first time. Since guinea pigs, like all primates, including humans, do not synthesize vitamin C, their use as experimen tal models can partially simulate human neurolathyrism.