EFFECT OF METHIONINE AND AGE OF RAT ON THE OCCURRENCE OF HEMORRHAGIC DIATHESIS IN RATS FED A RATION CONTAINING IRRADIATED BEEF
The possible role of methionine in the bleeding noted previously in rats fed gamma irradiated beef was studied. In weanling Sprague-Dawley rats fed 5.58-Mrad irradiated beef, a significant number of deaths occurred. Addition to the diet of 0.2 to 2.74% methionine reduced the mortality rate linearly. The prothrombin rate of rats fed an irradiated-beef ration was lower than that for rats fed nonirradiated beef, and it increased when the ration was supplemented with methionine. Growth was depressed by dietary methionine. Some adult rats died of internal hemorrhages when fed a ration containing nonirradiated beef, indicating adults were more susccptible than weanling rats to hemorrhagic diathesis. Feeding irradiated beef increased the mortality, but it was decreased by supplemental methionine. Methionine dietary content required to prevent hemorrhagic disease in adult rats fed nonirradiated-beef diet was less than that of rats fed irradiated beef. There was a linear decrease of body wt gain with increasing supplemental methionine, which was less for rats fed nonirradiated beef than for those fed irradiated-beef rations. Despite the effect of methionine in reducing the mortality rate, the occurrence of hemorrhage and subsequent death in rats did not take place primarily because of the destruction of methionine in beef by ionizing radiation, as was demonstrated by increasing the available methionine to 0.55%, above the amount available in the nonirradiatedbeef diet, without beneficial effect. Previously, no appreciable change was found in methionine in irradiated beef. Whether the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids in rats fed an irradiated-beef ration was altered was not determined. It is suggested, as a possible explanation for its protective effect, that methioninc increased Factor VII which was then converted to prothrombin in rats receiving irradiated beef. Another explanation of its protective effect could be that it depressed growth and hence the vitamin K requirement. However, only 1.14% supplemental /sup DL/methionine prevented death due to hemorrhages in adult rats fed nonirradiated beef and had no detrimental effect on body wt gains. (BBB)
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Illinois, Urbana
- NSA Number:
- NSA-18-000524
- OSTI ID:
- 4172341
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Nutrition (U.S.), Journal Name: Journal of Nutrition (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 80; ISSN JONUA
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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