Mathangi D C, Namasivayam A
Department of Physiology, Dr. ALM Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai 600 113, India.
Neurotox Res. 2000;2(1):29-35. doi: 10.1007/BF03033325.
Chronic cyanide intoxication from cassava has been implicated as the cause for a degenerative neuropathy known widely as tropical ataxic neuropathy. An attempt has been made in this study to identify the specific cause for neuropathy caused by cassava using Wistar strain albino rats as the experimental animal model. The results of cassava fed animals were compared with control animals, animals given cyanide, malnourished animals and malnourished animals fed cyanide, to identify the causative factors. This study revealed that though the behavioural pattern in motor coordination of the cassava fed animals was similar to the other groups studied, the neurochemical basis for the observed behavioural pattern was unique for cassava. Hence the neurotoxicity of cassava could be attributed to unmetabolized linamarin, more than its nutritional status and/or cyanide toxicity.
木薯引起的慢性氰化物中毒被认为是一种广泛称为热带共济失调性神经病变的退行性神经病变的病因。本研究试图以Wistar品系白化大鼠作为实验动物模型，确定木薯引起神经病变的具体原因。将喂食木薯的动物的结果与对照动物、给予氰化物的动物、营养不良的动物以及喂食氰化物的营养不良动物进行比较，以确定致病因素。这项研究表明，尽管喂食木薯的动物在运动协调方面的行为模式与所研究的其他组相似，但观察到的行为模式的神经化学基础对于木薯来说是独特的。因此，木薯的神经毒性可归因于未代谢的亚麻苦苷，而不是其营养状况和/或氰化物毒性。
