Dose Of Ethionine Research Articles

Ethionine-induced resorption of the rat conceptus.

SummaryA marked increase in resorption of the embryos and placentae was observed following administration of high doses of ethionine to pregnant rats. A similar dose of methionine had no apparent effect by itself while a combination of methionine with ethionine resulted in about a 50% reduction in the resorptive effect of ethionine. The sequential destruction of the tissues of placenta and embryo associated with the ethionine-induced resorption is described.

SEROLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ETHIONINE IN THE RABBIT

In relation to body weight, rabbits were found to tolerate a much lower dosage of ethionine than guinea pigs. Serum complement titers fell, however, even in rabbits receiving small daily doses of ethionine, an indication of a basal disturbance in the processes of protein synthesis. Total serum protein values remained within normal limits but globulin tended to increase in relation to albumin, whereas in many of the ethionine-injected guinea pigs previously studied, serum albumin had increased in relation to globulin. In rabbits given 250 mgm. daily doses of ethionine, a definite increase in the nonprotein nitrogen content of the serum was recorded.

SEROLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ETHIONINE IN THE RABBIT

In relation to body weight, rabbits were found to tolerate a much lower dosage of ethionine than guinea pigs. Serum complement titers fell, however, even in rabbits receiving small daily doses of ethionine, an indication of a basal disturbance in the processes of protein synthesis. Total serum protein values remained within normal limits but globulin tended to increase in relation to albumin, whereas in many of the ethionine-injected guinea pigs previously studied, serum albumin had increased in relation to globulin. In rabbits given 250 mgm. daily doses of ethionine, a definite increase in the nonprotein nitrogen content of the serum was recorded.

Parallel Studies of Complement and Blood Coagulation

Summary The repeated oral or parenteral administration of ethionine produced in female guinea pigs a fatty degeneration of the liver of varying extent and severity; some animals also showed pancreatic changes involving the acinar cells. Fatty infiltration was observed in the livers of some of the male guinea pigs injected with ethionine but it tended to be less extensive than in females similarly treated. Both male and female guinea pigs showed a pronounced drop in complement titer; of the four major components, C′1, C′2 and C′3 were most affected, although a decline in C′4 also occurred. A moderate to marked prolongation of the coagulation time of the plasma was recorded in guinea pigs that had received repeated doses of ethionine. Accelerator-globulin (labile factor) as well as prothrombin and fibrinogen appeared abnormally low in many of the specimens. The sera of many of the ethionine-treated guinea pigs, even though normal in total protein content, had abnormally high albumin-globulin ratios owing to a marked decrease in globulin. Although a general relationship has been demonstrated between the fall in complement titer, the degree of liver damage and the shift in serum protein pattern, changes in complement activity were often detected before these other effects of ethionine-treatment had become evident.