Changes in muscle protein in male albino rats due to certain toxins of legumes.

The unusual amino acids present in lathyrus seeds act as toxins on consumpt ion and produces deleterious effect on the physiology of animals and human beings. The amino acids BOAA and BAPN present in the seeds of Lathyrus sati vus (LS) and Lathyrus odoratus (LO) causes neurolathyrism and osteolathyris m respectively. The former is a disease of degeneration of nerves while the latter creates deformation of bones. In the present study the depletion in muscle protein level in LS fed rats was more pronounced than LO fed rats. Besides BOAA and BAPN some other unusual amino acids like Trypsin Inhibitor (TI) were Supposed to be responsible for inhibiting the process of protein synthesis in the rats.