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U.S. Department of Energy
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INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE MECHANISM FOR PRODUCTION OF THE HEMORRHAGIC SYNDROME WHICH DEVELOPS IN MALE RATS THAT RECEIVE DIETS CONTAINING IRRADIATED BEEF. Final Report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4821244

Studies were carried out to determine the mechanism for the production of the hemorrhagic syndrome which dediated and nonirradiated beef and irradiated and nonirradiated soybean protein were used as starting materials in this study. The incidence and severity of the hemorrhagic syndrome was more severe in male rats from the Holtzman strain than in those from the Texas A. & M. Colony. Hemorrhages developed in male rats receiving nonirradiated soybean protein and ether-alcohol extracted dried nonirradiated beef. Therefore, it is concluded that the irradiation process per se was not responsible for the irradiated beef producing the syndrome. The incidence of hemorrhages was consistently higher in male rats receiving 40 percent dietary protein than those receiving 12 or 20% dietary protein. Vitamin K (Menadione) prevented the hemorrhages. Supplementing the l2 and 40% dietary protein diets with different amounts of menadione showed that larger amounts of Vitamin K were required to prevent the hemorrhages when the diet contained 40% irradiated protein than when it contained l2%. The same trend was obtained in preliminary tests with nonirradiated protein and it is tentatively concluded that high protein diets increase the Vitamin K requirement of male rats. Two amino acid mixtures decreased the incidence of the hemorrhagic syndrome. One contained l4 pure amino acids. The other mixture contained three of the amino acids present in mixture l. These were L glutamic acid, L cystine and glycine. Addition of 2.0% of DL methionine reduced the incidence of the syndrome when the diet contained irradiated soybean protein, but it had comparatively little effect when the diet contained nonirradiated or control soybean protein. Further studies are needed to confirm the action of amino acids in preventing or reducing the incidence of the hemorrhages and to determine the mechanism of their action. The incidence of hemorrhages was higher in rats receiving 60,000 IU of Vitamin A/kg than in those receiving 30,000 IU. A higher incidence of hemorrhages occurred in the offspring when the diet of the mother was low in both Vitamin K and Vitamin A. (auth)

Research Organization:
Texas. Agricultural Experiment Station, College Station
NSA Number:
NSA-16-006267
OSTI ID:
4821244
Report Number(s):
NP-11258
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English