Toxicopathological Alterations Induced by High Dose Dietary T-2 Mycotoxin and its Residue Detection in Wistar Rats

Abstract

T-2 toxin is one of the most potent cytotoxic and food-borne mycotoxins. Most experimental studies on the T-2 toxin have been performed at extremely low doses (ppb level). However, several field reports of contaminated feed have shown concentration of T-2 toxin to be as high as ≥20 ppm. Therefore, the impact of high dose T-2 toxin (20 ppm) after subacute exposure was investigated in an experimental setup with respect to growth performance, oxidative stress, and detailed pathomorphology in young male Wistar rats. Furthermore, to see the effect of such a high dose on the accumulation of T-2 toxin, its residues in various organs were quantified by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). Apart from obvious clinical toxicosis, rats in the toxin-fed group showed significant hemato-biochemical alterations and increased levels of biological markers of oxidative stress with concomitant decrease in levels of serum and tissue catalase and superoxide dismutase. These alterations were strongly supported by histopathological changes, such as hyperkeratosis and hyperplasia of the squamous gastric mucosa, oxidative damage to hepatocytes, atrophy of the thymus and spleen, and overall decrease in the spermatogenic activity of testes. An economical, simple, reliable, and quick method for the detection and quantification of T-2 toxin residues by HPTLC is also reported here. No residual T-2 toxin was detected in any of the organs tested, suggesting that T-2 toxin does not accumulate in tissues even at such a high exposure level.

Elevated concentrations of T-2 toxin cause oxidative stress in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

“…However, the histological examination of these tissues did not show any dystrophic changes indicating that reduction in plasma proteins is likely a result of disruption of protein synthesis and not directly related to tissue damage. Our findings are in agreement with several studies reporting the decrease in protein concentration in liver and plasma of mammals and birds after T‐2 toxin oral treatment (e.g., Atroshi et al., ; Chandratre et al., ; Pande, Kurkure, & Bhandarkar, ).…”

“…during 24–48 hr. The increase in lipid peroxidation was also observed in the liver of rats where lipid peroxidation was determined by analysis of TBARS (Chandratre et al., ; Rizzo et al., ). Our findings are in accordance with previous studies on lipid peroxidation as the increase in TBARS (28%) was observed in the liver of the trout at T‐2 toxin concentration 1.8 mg/kg.…”

“…CAT present mainly in liver (Halliwell & Gutteridge, ) transforms hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. Short‐term high concentration of T‐2 toxin gave rise to increase in CAT activity in the liver of mice (Chaudhari, Jayaraj, Santhosh, & Rao, ) whereas prolonged 14 days feeding of T‐2 toxin caused a significant decrease in the activity of CAT in the liver of rats (Chandratre, Telang, Badgujar, Raut, & Sharma, ). In our study, a significant decrease in CAT (80%, 73%) was observed in the liver of the rainbow trout after the 28‐day trial in both tested concentrations of T‐2 toxin.…”

“…T‐2 toxin is able to induce lipid peroxidation in different animals such as rats, mice and chickens (Chandratre et al., ; Chaudhari et al., ; Leal et al., ; Rizzo, Atroshi, Ahotupa, Sankari, & Elovaara, ; Vilà, Jaradat, Marquardt, & Frohlich, ). Lipid peroxidation in the liver has also been identified as an important indication of oxidative stress in cells caused by T‐2 toxin (Rezar, Frankic, Narat, Levart, & Salobir, ).…”

T-2 mycotoxin treatment of newborn rat pups does not significantly affect nervous system functions in adulthood

“…A decrease in weight gain caused by trichothecenes has been described in several species, including rats. However, adult animals and prolonged exposure to toxin were used in most studies [4,5]. In our study, after treatment on the first postnatal day, growth impairment did not occur at once, but with a delay of about 7 days.…”