Effect of Cassava on motor co-ordination and neurotransmitter level in thealbino rat

The root of Cassava, a tropical plant, is consumed in the tropics and has b een attributed as the cause for various tropical neuropathies. This study a ims to discover the neurotoxic effects of chronic cassava consumption of In dian origin and the effect of malnutrition. The assessment is based on the motor co-ordination and brain neurotransmitters in rats. Cassava consumptio n reduced the motor co-ordination, but the changes in neurotransmitter leve ls due to cassava consumption (except for 5HT in corpus striatum) was ident ical with malnutrition-induced changes, indicating that the toxicity of chr onic cassava consumption (of Indian origin) is mainly due to the associated protein calorie malnutrition (PCM). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig hts reserved.