Effect of cyclopiazonic acid on delayed hypersensitivity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, complement activity, serum enzymes, and bilirubin in guinea pigs.

Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) was given daily to groups of guinea pigs at doses of 0.00625, 0.0125, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, and 1.95 mg/day for 30 days. All guinea pigs were sensitized and survivors were skin tested twenty-five days later with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mortalities occurred only in the two greatest dose groups. Signs of disease included anorexia, roughened hair coat, diarrhea and incoordination. The major histopathologic changes occurring in these two groups included hepatocellular vacuolar degeneration and necrosis of the gastric mucosa with infiltration of neutrophils in the deep gastric mucosa. CPA did not affect cutaneous hypersensitivity to M. tuberculosis, complement activity, serum glycocholic acid concentrations or weight gains. There were increases in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and sorbitol dehydrogenase concentrations in the serum of guinea pigs in the two greater dose groups, but no changes were found in serum concentrations of SAP. There was a slight increase in the serum bilirubin concentrations in the greater dose groups.