In experimental ricin intoxication there is a detectable gastric acid secretion in the rat.
According to previous investigations, ricin the toxic protein of castor oil seeds (Ricinus communis, Euphorbiaceae) given in subtoxic dose, evokes a parathyroid lesion with a consecutive parathormone mobilization in the rat. The elevated parathormone level rises the plasma calcium-content resulting (among others) in endogenous gastrin mobilization. This latter increases the gastric acid secretion in significant degree. This, hitherto unknown effect of ricin directs the attention once again to the complexity of its toxic action.
Bálint
G A
GA
Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Szent-Györgyi Albert Medical University, Szeged, Hungary.
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012276:Ricin / Q000633:toxicity*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
D012276:Ricin; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium