Editing Locoweed (section)

==Pathology==
[[Substance intoxication|Intoxication]] with swainsonine has several kinds of effect.

Livestock that graze for several weeks on locoweed (and little else) develop a [[lysosomal storage disease]] similar to genetic [[mannosidosis]].<ref name="pmid10091126">{{cite journal
|vauthors=Stegelmeier BL, James LF, Panter KE, Ralphs MH, Gardner DR, Molyneux RJ, Pfister JA | title = The pathogenesis and toxicokinetics of locoweed (''Astragalus'' and ''Oxytropis'' spp.) poisoning in livestock
| journal = Journal of Natural Toxins
| volume = 8
| issue = 1
| pages = 35–45
|date=February 1999
| pmid = 10091126
}}</ref> Swainsonine inhibits a [[Lysosome|lysosomal]] [[enzyme]], [[Alpha-mannosidosis|alpha-mannosidase]].<ref name=Jonesetal1997p31>[[#Jonesetal1997|Jones et al. (1997)]], page 31.</ref> This results in abnormal accumulation of the molecules normally processed by the enzyme, and this accumulation leads to [[Vacuole|vacuolation]] of most tissues. Vacuolation is most obvious in [[neuron]]s and [[epithelial cell]]s. The vacuolation resolves shortly after poisoning is discontinued, but if the vacuolation is so severe that it destroys cells, it may result in some neurologic damage that is irreversible and permanent.<ref name="pmid10091126"/> The damage is highly varied. In cattle at [[high altitude]], complications of locoism can include [[congestive heart failure]].<ref name=Merck>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/11400.htm
|title=High-mountain Disease: Introduction|journal=The Merck Veterinary Manual
|year=2008|accessdate=May 11, 2009}}</ref>