Introduction to Fungi, Third Edition

CLAVICIPITALES
353
and dumb, and, besides, lost a limb which actually
rotted off, precisely in the same way as the limbs of
the animals which were compelled to swallow the
experimental ergot.
Another effect is on the nervous system,
resulting in convulsions, hallucinations and
burning sensations. In the Middle Ages the
symptoms of ergotism were called ‘St
Anthony’s fire’ and there are numerous records
of out-breaks of the disease (see Ramsbottom,
1953; Fuller, 1969; Matossian, 1989). Matossian
(1989) has outlined some of the social consequences
of ergotism, e.g. in depressing population
growth after the plague outbreaks in
Europe, and in provoking witch trials in North
America when women were accused of and
executed for bewitching people who were probably
suffering from ergot-induced food poisoning
and hallucinations.
With improved grain-cleaning techniques
and a switch in carbohydrate consumption
from rye to wheat, maize and potatoes, the
disease is now rare in humans. Cattle and sheep
which have eaten sclerotia from pasture grasses,
or pigs and horses fed on ergot-contaminated
grain, are still affected and if pregnant animals
are involved there is a risk of abortion. However,
these problems are now relatively rare.
Fig12.27 Claviceps purpurea. (a) L.S. perithecial stroma.
(b) T.S. young sclerotium showing the formation of
phialoconidia on the surface. (c) Ascus and ascospores.
Note the cap of the ascus.
dreadful, and there seems to be very little doubt that
the suspicions as to their originating from ergotted
flour of rye are correct. Tessier, who has paid great
attention to the subject, mentions a case which
came under his own observation. A family were in
a state of great destitution, and the father begged of
a neighbouring farmer a quantity of ergotted rye to
supply the urgent calls of his distressed family for
food. The farmer gave it him, but added that he was
afraid it was not wholesome. Still the calls of hunger
prevailed, and in the face of this caution it was
eaten. The result was the death of the father,
mother, and five of the children out of seven. Two
survived, but one of them became subsequently deaf
Alkaloids of Claviceps purpurea
Ergot alkaloids are used in human medicine. ‘No
other class of compounds exhibits such a wide
spectrum of structural diversity, biological activity
and therapeutic uses as ergot derivatives’
(Křen & Cvak, 1999). This is because the tetracyclic
ergoline ring structure (Fig. 12.28) mimics
several neurotransmitter molecules such as
noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin
(Mantegani et al., 1999). Two alkaloids, ergometrine
and ergotamine, are of special importance
and are produced by field strains of C. purpurea
(Pažoutová et al., 2000). Ergometrine causes
constriction of smooth muscle tissues. The
name ergometrine is derived from endometrium,
the lining of the uterus, because the
drug is used to stimulate uterine contraction.
Ergotamine can similarly accelerate uterine
contraction and is used as a vasoconstrictor