Attempt to influence the Increased Solubility of Collagen in Lathyrism by Hydrocortisone

ADMINISTRATION of lathyrogenic agents to growing animals induces a variety of connective tissue malformations such as exostoses, hernias and aneurysms. Some authors claim that it is possible to suppress these malformations of lathyrism by treatment with corticoids, thyroxine and some antirheumatic drugs 1–3 . The basic defect of connective tissue in lathyrism is the alteration of the molecular aggregation of collagen, resulting in increased solubility in acid or neutral salt solutions 4 . In this study an attempt was undertaken to influence the increased solubility of collagen in lathyrism by treatment with hydrocortisone.