Ergonovine from ipomoea carnea responsible of addictive effect in intoxicated guinea pigs.

CHOLICH LUCIANA A; TORRES ANA M; DELFINO MARIO (H); CAMARGO FRANCISCO; RIOS ELVIO E; GIMENO EDUARDO J.; ACOSTA DE PEREZ OFELIA C

Lisboa

Congreso; II Iberic Meeting of Veterinary Pathology.; 2011

Sociedad Portuguesa de Patologia Animal y Sociedad Española de Anatomia Patologica Veterinaria

Ipomoea carnea is a toxic plant, able to generate a poisoning in the goats. It is characterized by hepatic damage, nervous upheavals and death. The addiction in rumiant is commonly cited as a clinical sign of Ipomoea intoxication. The objective of the study was to determine, through observation, whether the animals poisoned by Ipomoea become addicted to it, to identify the possible alkaloid responsible for this preference and the relation between serotonin and ergot derivatives. “Small balls” were elaborated with leaves of Ipomoea and administered to guinea pigs during 75 days. Besides, an extract of leaves from Ipomoea was elaborate to conduct different assays for the lysergic acid derivatives, such as HPLC-UV. Finally, plasma serotonin (5-HT) was quantified by methods based on HPLC- with electrochemical detection. We observed that the intoxicated animals screeched when people entered to the animal’s room. They stopped to make it when they received the “small balls” and they refused the grass. Ergonovine was identified in the extract by comparison the chromatography profile of extract and standard reference. Decreased activity of 5-HT in poisoned guinea pigs suggests the presence of derivatives of lysergic acid. They may act as 5-HT2 agonists at postsynaptic 5-HT2 receptors. Possibly, the decreased 5-HT2 concentration was due to self-regulation. The results demonstrate the presence of ergot derivatives in the plant and the addiction in guinea pig.