Abstract
Ricin, a protein from the seeds ofRicinus communis which inhibits protein synthesis by eukaryotic ribosomes, is highly toxic when injected intraventricularly to rats, the LD50 being 0.241 μg/rat at 72 hr and 0.084 μg/rat at 7 days. Poisoned animals showed signs of central depression; they did not die before 20 hr of intoxication. Incorporation of amino acids in vivo into brain total protein and into brain ribosomes was impaired, as was protein synthesis in vitro by microsomes isolated from the brain of poisoned rats.
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Strocchi, P., Novello, F., Montanaro, N. et al. Effect of intraventricularly injected ricin on protein synthesis in rat brain. Neurochem Res 4, 259–268 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00964149
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00964149