CONSISTENT STRIATAL DAMAGE IN RATS INDUCED BY 3-NITROPROPIONIC ACID AND CULTURES OF ARTHRINIUM FUNGUS

Arthrinium fungi were cultivated from the samples of mildewed sugarcan e which caused acute encephalopathy and delayed dystonia in children. The Arthrinium cultures (AC) contained 5 mg/ml 3-nitropropionic acid ( 3-NPA) after being inactivated and concentrated. A neuropathological s tudy was carried out in rats intoxicated with 3-NPA and AC, respective ly. Consistent bilateral striatal necrosis was found in rats with both poisonings, and the severity was well correlated with persistent recu mbency which was a clinical indicator of the development of morphologi cal brain lesions. A reproducible animal model of striatal damage has been produced in rats by IP injections of 10 mg/kg 3-NPA, 6 times a da y, with an interval of 1.5 h for 3-5 days. The clinical and neuropatho logical manifestations in rats dosed with AC were nearly the same as t hose dosed with 3-NPA. The striatal lesions induced by 3-NPA and AC in poisoned rats were in accordance with the bilateral lenticular hypode nsity found by CT scanning in patients of mildewed sugarcane poisoning with delayed dystonia. This neuropathological evidence supports previ ous epidemiological and mycological findings which indicate that 3-NPA is the possible pathogen of acute mildewed sugarcane poisoning.