[Lathyrism and collagens I and III (author's transl)].

The administration of lathyrogenetic agents (BAPN) at weak and prolonged doses (9 weeks, 1 g/kg/day) induced in the rat simultaneous alterations of aortic and cutaneous connective tissues comparable to the modifications observed during ageing in man. The lathyrogens produced this effect by inhibiting lysine-oxydase, the enzyme responsible for cross-linking collagen and elastin which leads to an increase in extractable collagen in the tissues. But BAPN did not appear to affect synthesis of collagen either in amount or in types I and III collagen ratio.