Further Arguments against 4-methylimidazole as Causal Factor in Ammoniated Forage Toxicosis: Experimental Seed-hay Poisoning in Young Lambs

Ammoniated Forage Poisoning: Isolation and Characterization of Alkyl-Substituted Imidazoles in Ammoniated Forage and in Milk

“…A previous study performed by our department strongly supported this hypothesis. Quantitative determination of 4-MeI in samples of ewe milk at the time of poisoning and of plasma from poisoned lambs showed very low levels of 4-MeI, confirming the need to look for additional etiological agents (Sivertsen et al, 1993).…”

“…Milk and Forage Samples. Milk samples used were partly from a previously published intoxication study in sheep (Sivertsen et al, 1993) and partly from a cow specifically fed to obtain suitable material for the present investigation. The sheep milk samples were obtained by hand milking of two of the ewes in the experiment, at the time when the lambs sucking these ewes developed toxic symptoms.…”

“…The ammoniated forage samples were taken from the feed of the ewes and the cow, respectively, at the time the milk samples were collected. The sheep forage was from a bale of ammoniated timothy seed hay with high levels of 4-MeI, and the forage used for feeding was taken exclusively from the part of the bale lying on top during NH3 treatment (Sivertsen et al, 1993;Randby and Langseth, 1990). The cow's forage was from the upper part of a bale of ammoniated regular timothy hay, otherwise produced and prepared in the same way as the ammoniated seed hay for the sheep.…”

“…The injection volume was 20 µL. 4-MeI was analyzed according to a modified version (Sivertsen et al, 1993) of a method described by Thomsen and Willumsen (1981).…”

Diabetes through transitions in life; from fit to frail

“…In addition to activating the chain function of the microglia, keeping it activated and generating changes in neighboring neurons, which can eventually present alterations functional or structural [14]. Several articles support the neurotoxic effect of 4(5)-MEI, characterized by episodes of confusion, motor agitation or hyperexcitability, tremors and seizures.15 The findings obtained in experimental studies where very low concentrations of 4(5)-MEI in the diet and determined in the plasma of experimentally intoxicated animals, [15,16] has given way to being considered a seizure agent, [17] not being possible to differentiate between the clinical signs of experimental exposure with 4(5)-MEI and food poisoning [18]. Furthermore, this observation has been verified in animals under concentrations and controlled application.…”