Toxic Interaction of Lathyrus sativus and Manganese in Guinea Pig Intestine.

The combined effects on the intestinal cells of guinea pigs following feeding them with lathyrus and manganese (Mn) for 90 days were studied in this investigation. Guinea pigs given Mn (4 ppm of their diets) for 90 days showed no change in either intestinal bioconstituents or marker enzymes, with the exception of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and quinone reductase (QR). Exposure to a diet of 80% lathyrus only resulted in significant (p <. 05) inhibition of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (ALP), sucrase, GGT, QR, and glutathione-s-transferase (GST) along with significant (p <. 05) depletion of total hexose and phospholipids. Animals given lathyrus and Mn showed a significant (p <. 05) decrease in intestinal ALP, Ca +2 Mg +2 -ATPase, sucrase, GGT, GST, and QR along with significant (p <. 05) depletion in total hexose and phospholipids and concomitant enhancement in cholesterol when compared to controls. The data clearly indicate that combined treatment with lathyrus and Mn potentiates intestinal toxicity more than does Mn or lathyrus alone.