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Seeds of the weed Datura ferox are frequent contaminants of raw materials used for animal feed. These seeds produce various toxic effects and contain mainly the alkaloids scopolamine and hyoscyamine. In this 3-month toxicity study, a mixture of scopolamine and hyoscyamine (98:2) was incorporated at four total alkaloid levels (1.5, 15, 75 or 150 mg/kg feed) into a control diet fed to 100 broilers. Alkaloid feeding caused significant reductions in the body weight gain of birds, especially of those fed a dose of 150 mg alkaloid/kg feed. Growth-retarding effects, however, were transient, as no changes in body weight gain were noted after 52 days of alkaloid feeding. Alkaloid-treated broilers showed no significant differences from controls with respect to the cardiac rate and breathing frequency nor in relation to plasma aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities. In contrast, plasma leucine aminopeptidase activity was significantly reduced after 3 months in all alkaloid-fed birds. Autopsy and histological examination of tissues by light and electron microscopy revealed no pathological changes associated with alkaloid feeding. Broilers appeared generally healthy and behaved normally throughout. These data should be considered in the formulation of new, improved regulations defining the maximum allowable alkaloid content of D. ferox seeds contaminating raw materials destined for use as broiler feed.

The transplacental effect of tetraethyl lead or lead acetate on the activity of inorganic pyrophosphatase in brain, liver and kidneys of newborn rats varied with the organ, the lead compound, the dose, and the route and time of administration. Enzyme activity was usually decreased in brain and liver, suggesting adverse effects of lead on metabolism in these organs. The inorganic pyrophosphatase activity was generally increased in kidneys.

Blood, seminal plasma and spermatozoa lead concentrations were determined in Holstein (29 animals), Brown Swiss (14 animals) and Charoleux (11 animals) bulls aged 1-8 y. Blood concentrations were (mean +/- SD) 21.47 +/- 5.85, 18.71 +/- 6.60 and 23.27 +/- 6.75 ng Pb/ml respectively/each breed. Seminal plasma concentrations were 17.15 +/- 10.37, 13.62 +/- 10.10 and 14.03 +/- 11.31 ng Pb/ml, respectively. Spermatozoa concentrations averaged 74.93 +/- 48.10, 76.60 +/- 33.95 and 63.39 +/- 25.83 ng Pb/10(9) cells respectively. Age appeared to influence seminal plasma and spermatozoa lead levels, gradually decreasing in concentrations as the animals advanced in age.

The transplacental effect of lead compounds (lead acetate and tetraethyl lead) on the tissue plasminogen activator activity (PAA), plasminogen activator inhibition (PAI) and plasmin inhibition (PI) was studied in the rat. The concentration of lead in organs of the newborn showed a great variation; the distribution of lead in the organs studied depended on the dose and the stage of gestation at injection. In each organ the concentration of lead was dose-dependent. In control specimens no lead could be detected. The tissue response of PAA, PAI and PI to the lead compounds also showed a great variation; however, there was no correlation between lead concentrations and PAA, PAI or PI responses. Changes of one or more of the parameters studied (PAA, PAI or PI) were noticed in lungs, liver, heart, brain and kidneys. The PAA was due to the tissue type plasminogen activator in all organs studied; in kidneys and lungs the urokinase type of plasminogen activator was also detected. Therefore, fetal tissue PAA, PAI and PI can be affected transplacentally by lead compounds.