[In vitro and in vivo production of amines by a Lactobacillus strain isolated from a cock crop]

The chicken digestive tract is mainly colonized by bacteria belonging to the Lactobacillus genus. One of these strains (LEM-207) isolated from the crop of a cock and closely resembling L. acidophilus, was able to develop on a carbohydrate-free medium. Production of carbon dioxide and synthesis of tyramine, putrescine and cadaverine were observed in the cultures. Once implanted in the crops of germ-free chickens, strain LEM-207 led to the formation of amines. In germ-free (axenic) animals, only endogenous tyramine was detected, whereas in monoassociated chickens, we found a production of tyramine, cadaverine and putrescine. The concentrations of cadaverine and putrescine decreased with increasing acidification of the contents, whereas the level of tyramine increased (7-fold higher level than in germ-free chicken). Amine production was not detected in the caeca. The toxicological aspects of tyramine production in terms of the animal are discussed.