Anti-nutritional effects of a moderate dose of soybean agglutinin in the rat.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a moderate dose of purified soybean agglutinin on performance and nitrogen digestibility in rats as well as to determine its effects on the protein, DNA and RNA content of the small intestine and pancreas. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allotted into one of four groups for a 10-day nitrogen balance experiment. The four groups of rats were fed 7 g of a casein-cornstarch based diet or a similar diet supplemented with 0.1, 0.2 or 0.4 mg/g purified soybean agglutinin. All experimental diets were adjusted to an identical nutrient level. Dose of soybean agglutinin had no significant effect on rat performance. Incorporation of soybean agglutinin in the diet reduced apparent protein digestibility and the utilization of dietary protein by increasing nitrogen loss from the faeces and urine. Fresh pancreatic weight increased in rats fed soybean agglutinin at a level of 0.4 mg/g in the diet compared to the control, but the dry pancreatic weight and the protein content of the pancreas did not differ among the four groups. However the DNA and RNA content of the pancreas had a tendency to increase with a higher level of soybean agglutinin. The weight of the jejunum and its protein, DNA and RNA content were not significantly affected by soybean agglutinin, but the dry weight and the RNA of the jejunum tended to increase with higher levels of soybean agglutinin in the diet. In conclusion, purified soybean agglutinin, at moderate levels in the rats diet, had negative effects on digestive function, such as nitrogen digestibility, nitrogen retention and nitrogen balance. As the level of soybean agglutinin increased, the effects became more pronounced. Meanwhile, hypertrophy of the pancreas was observed with higher doses of soybean agglutinin incorporation in the diets.