Subchronic toxic effects of fusarium moniliforme and fumonisin B1 in rats and mice

Abstract

Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by the fungi Fusarium moniliforme, F. proliferatum, and other Fusarium species. Fumonisin B1, the most commonly found fumonisin, causes the fatal diseases equine leukoencephalomalacia and porcine pulmonary edema. Fumonisins are suspected human carcinogens because of the extraordinarily high incidences of esophageal cancer coincidentally found in areas of southern Africa and China where F. moniliforme-contaminated corn is consumed as a dietary staple. The subchronic (up to 90 days) effects of F. moniliforme-contaminated corn, corn cultures of this fungus, and purified fumonisin B1 (FB1) in rats and mice were systematically studied to determine target organs, characterize organ-specified lesions, and obtain dose-response data. The liver is a target organ in both species. Serum chemical findings indicative of hepatocellular injury and morphological findings, including apoptosis, appeared qualitatively similar in both species. The kidney is also a target organ in rats, but not mice. Lesions which include apoptosis and cellular degeneration are predominately found in the outer medella. Results of several investigations showed that the kidney was consistently affected at lower doses than the liver. The "no-observed-effect" level for nephropathy in rats was also consistently lower in males than females, suggesting a sex-related difference in nephrotoxic response to fumonisins. Other findings suggest that toxigenesis may be mediated by disruption of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis. Hepatic and renal sphingolipid profiles, specifically sphinganine concentration and sphinganine-to-sphingosine ratio, were altered in rats fed FB1 at levels that did not cause serum chemical, organ weight, or histopathological evidence of toxicity.

Lipid metabolism disorders, lymphocytes cells death, and renal toxicity induced by very low levels of deoxynivalenol and fumonisin B1alone or in combination following 7 days oral administration to mice

“…Our results were supported by previous studies focused on FB 1 , FB 2 , and FB 3 performed in rats and mice. [1718] But macroscopic examinations did not reveal damage of the kidney of mice treated by FB 1 and FB 1 + DON. However, we think that a prolongation of duration of our experiments in order to show an evident damage of kidney induced by FB 1 and DON tested at very low doses should lead to marked histopathological effects.…”

Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of fumonisin B1 on rabbit kidney RK13 cell line

“…Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by certain strains of Fusarium moniliforme, the most commonly occurring fungi on corn, sorghum, millet and other agricultural products (Voss et al 1996;Nair 1998). Fumonisins could cause equine leukoencephalomalacia and porcine pulmonary oedema, as well as hepatocarcinomas and cholangiocarcinomas in rats (Voss et al 1996).…”

“…Fumonisins could cause equine leukoencephalomalacia and porcine pulmonary oedema, as well as hepatocarcinomas and cholangiocarcinomas in rats (Voss et al 1996). These toxins are also potential human carcinogens because of the exceptionally high incidences of oesophageal cancer coincidentally found in areas of southern Africa (Marasas et al 1988) and China (Yang 1980;Cheng et al 1985) where F. moniliforme-contaminated corn is consumed as a dietary staple (Voss et al 1996). It has been demonstrated that fumonisins are hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, atherogenic, immunosuppressive and embryotoxic in various experimental animal models (Nair 1998).…”

Immunobiological Effects of Fumonisin B1 in Experimental Subchronic Mycotoxicoses in Rats

“…Diseases induced by mycotoxins cause acute, chronic, and subchronic toxicities, which depend on different factors such as the animal species, age, sex, strain, dosage, and administration route (18,41). Fumonisins have been associated with different kinds of mycotoxicoses in domestic animals, such as leukoencephalomalacia in equines (34), pulmonary edema in pigs (10), and hepatocellular carcinoma in rats (15).…”