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Feeding behavior in rats on a complete diet containing Concanavalin A
C Larue-Achagiotis1, M Picard, J Louis-Sylvestre
1Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Bât B, Laboratoire de Neurobiologie de la Nutrition, Paris, France.
Reproduction, Nutrition, Development
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Canavalia ensiformis lectins, like Concanavalin A, cause food rejection in rats. This rejection is linked to impaired gut absorption, not neophobia or taste aversion.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Toxicology
- Animal Nutrition
Background:
- Canavalia ensiformis (jack bean) is a tropical legume with potential for animal feed.
- It contains Concanavalin A (Con A), a lectin toxic to animals.
- Con A causes rapid food rejection in rats when included in their diet.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism behind Concanavalin A-induced food rejection in rats.
- To differentiate Con A rejection from neophobia and conditioned taste aversion.
- To identify the physiological basis for the observed rejection behavior.
Main Methods:
- Rats were fed diets containing Con A to observe rejection patterns.
- Studies were conducted to rule out neophobic responses (fear of new foods).
- Conditioned taste aversion tests were performed.
- Gastric intubation was used to assess direct physiological effects.
Main Results:
- Food rejection was observed shortly after ingestion of Con A-containing diets.
- The rejection was not due to neophobia.
- Conditioned taste aversion did not explain the rejection.
- Gastric intubation suggested impaired gut absorption as a potential cause.
Conclusions:
- Concanavalin A in Canavalia ensiformis causes rapid food rejection in rats.
- The rejection mechanism is not neophobia or conditioned taste aversion.
- Impaired gut absorption due to lectin binding to gut membrane glycosylated molecules is a plausible hypothesis for the rejection phenomenon.