TOXICITY AND METABOLIC EFFECTS OF INTRAVENOUSLY ADMINISTERED 3-NITROPROPANOL IN CATTLE
In vitro and in vivo metabolic studies were conducted with bovine blood to determine decay rates for 3-nitropropanol (NPOH), a toxic forage constituent occurring in many Astragalus species. Methemoglobin (metHb) and plasma nitrite [Formula: see text] levels were concomitantly determined and early signs of poisoning were recorded. Subtle increases in heart and respiration rates, development of a placid, stupefied state, frothy salivation and incoordination characterized early stages of intoxication. Animals with low decay rates for NPOH showed a gradual increase in the metHb and [Formula: see text]. When the decay rate was high, a rapid increase in netHb and [Formula: see text] was observed. Acutely poisoned animals showed the highest levels of metHb and [Formula: see text] but intermediate rates of decay for NPOH. When NPOH was incubated with bovine blood in vitro, [Formula: see text] was not detected and metHb was not significantly altered, indicating that NPOH is not metabolized in bovine blood. A new method is described for determining NPOH in bovine blood.