Fate of mimosine administered orally to sheep and its effectiveness as a defleecing agent.

Abstract

Mimosine was administered orally to Merino sheep once daily for periods of 1-3 days, either as the isolated compound or in the foliage of Leucaena leucocephala. A single daily dose of mimosine of 450 or 600 mg/kg body weight was effective for defleecing sheep. A daily dose rate of 300 mg/kg was effective for defleecing sheep if given on two successive days. The effectiveness of a treatment for defleecing sheep was related to the concentration of mimosine in plasma following dosing; defleecing ensued when the concentration of mimosine in plasma was maintained above 0-1 mmol/l for at least 30 h. The main products excreted in urine were mimosine and 3,4-dihydroxypyridine (DHP); small amounts of mimosinamine were also excreted. During the first day following dosing, the major excretory product was mimosine; DHP was an important component during the second and third days. In the three days following the start of dosing, between 32 and 53% of the mimosine given was accounted for as mimosine in the urine. Following an intravenous infusion of mimosine, no DHP was detected in urine; most of the mimosine was excreted intact but a small amount (c. 9%) was excreted as mimosinamine.

• Authors: P J Reis, D A Tunks, M P Hegarty
• Journal: Australian journal of biological sciences (Aust J Biol Sci) Vol. 28 Issue 5-6 Pg. 495-501 (Dec 1975) ISSN: 0004-9417 [Print] Australia
• PMID: 1225286 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Pyridines
• Pyridones
• Mimosine

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Animals
• Male
• Mimosine (administration & dosage, metabolism, pharmacology)
• Plants
• Pyridines (urine)
• Pyridones (metabolism)
• Sheep
• Wool (drug effects)