Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2009
Young Lean And Obese Mice given diets containing, respectively, 5% reducing to 3% and 5% rising to 7% of typical alkaloid-containing ergot (Claviceps purpurea) showed inappetence, failed to grow during the period of 19 days and some individuals died. In contrast, ergot of a strain which cannot biosynthesize ergoline alkaloids was generally well accepted in dietary proportions, rising stepwise from 5 to 12% over the same period; growth rates of animals on control and alkaloid-free ergot diets did not differ significantly. The findings provide a context in which to discuss differentiation of ergoline alkaloids from the inappetence which is a prominent feature of ergot poisoning.