Effects of very large doses of penicillin G given orally to rats.

Abstract

Nimni and Bavetta1 reported a connective tissue disorder in rats fed penicillamine. The disorder was reflected by decreased breaking strength of unwounded and wounded skin, decreased collagen synthesis in polyvinyl sponge implants and a diminished proportion of insoluble to soluble collagen in such granulomas. We have studied this phenomenon in rats and guinea-pigs2–4 and have likened it to the lathyritic state induced by feeding β-amino propionitrile, a view also expressed by Nimni5. Penicillamine can be derived6 from both the in vitro and the in vivo hydrolysis of penicillin, so we set out to determine whether the feeding of very large doses of penicillin would cause a collagen defect similar to that caused by penicillamine.