Excess rumen product anions in cattle. II. Toxic and lethal effects with butyrate.
Toxicity to butyrate was observed in 100-250 kg male Holstein calves following intravenous injection of 0.7-3.6 mmole/kg body weight, intravenous infusion with 0.12-0.53 mmole/min/kg body weight and intraruminal dosage with 19.4 mmole/kg body weight butyrate. Lower doses produced ataxia and serous nasal discharge. Higher doses produced sudden flaccid paralysis and death from asphyxia. No postmortem lesions, gross or histological, were observed. Plasma K+ was reduced to 2.2-2.5 mEq/L. When infusions were stopped, rapid recovery preceded clearance of butyrate and low K+ remained. Nerve depolarization in the central nervous system may be the cause of the toxic effects. Butyrate acidosis is suggested as a factor in unexplained sudden deaths in ruminants.
D000138:Acidosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D001259:Ataxia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D002087:Butyrates / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D020148:Butyric Acid; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male
D002087:Butyrates; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D020148:Butyric Acid