nivalenol and Weight-Gain

Deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV) and zearalenone (ZEA) are mycotoxins commonly produced by Fusarium species. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of DON alone and in combination with NIV and ZEA on several parameters including weight gain and histological aspects of pigs submitted to chronic intoxication. Twenty, 5-week-old piglets received for 28 days one of the following diets: a control diet, a diet mono- contaminated with DON (1.5mg/kg), a diet multi-contaminated with DON (2mg/kg)+NIV (1.3mg/kg)+ZEA (1.5mg/kg) or a diet contaminated with DON (3mg/kg)+NIV (1.3mg/kg)+ZEA (1.5mg/kg). Animals fed the multi-contaminated diets presented a significant decrease in weight gain over the total period. The chronic ingestion of the contaminated diets induced a significant increase on histological changes on the intestine, liver and lymphoid organs. In addition, a significant increase on lymphocyte apoptosis was observed in lymph nodes and spleen in the animals receiving the contaminated diets. These data provide a better understanding of the possible effects of Fusarium toxins, alone or in combinations on the morphology of the intestine and lymphoid organs, which would contribute to the risk assessment of these toxins.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Cell Proliferation; Drug Interactions; Food Contamination; Intestines; Liver; Male; Swine; Trichothecenes; Weight Gain; Zearalenone

Groups of 42 7-wk-old female C57BL/6CrSlc SPF mice were fed diets containing 0, 6, 12 and 30 ppm nivalenol (NIV) for 2 years. Body-weight gain was reduced in all treated groups of animals and feed efficiency was reduced, significantly so, in the high-dose group. The absolute weights of the liver in the 30-ppm group, and of the kidneys in the 12- and 30-ppm groups were significantly reduced, compared with those of the controls. When expressed relative to brain weight there was a reduction in the kidney weight of the 12-ppm NIV group only. Some leucopenia was seen in the treated mice, particularly in the 30-ppm group, although this was not statistically significant, and there were dose-dependent increases in the serum concentrations of alkaline phosphatase and non-esterified fatty acids. No tumours attributable to NIV were found in any of the experimental groups. Naturally occurring tumours, mostly lymphomas, were of similar incidence in all groups, but developed later and appeared to grow more slowly in the mice of the 30-ppm group than in those of other groups. The incidence of amyloidosis, particularly in the small intestine, was low in the two higher dose groups compared with that in the control group. The mortality rate of the 30-ppm NIV group was lower than that of the control group and this may be partly due to the lower tumour incidence in the earlier period and partly due to the lower incidence of amyloidosis.

Topics: Amyloidosis; Animals; Blood Cell Count; Carcinogenicity Tests; Eating; Female; Food Contamination; Fusarium; Kidney; Mice; Neoplasms, Experimental; Organ Size; Oryza; Sesquiterpenes; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; Time Factors; Trichothecenes; Weight Gain

Groups of ten C57BL/6CrSlc SPF mice of each sex were fed diets containing 0, 6, 12 or 30 ppm nivalenol for 4 or 12 wk. Body-weight gains of males and females were depressed, dose-dependently in the case of males. Feed consumption was also depressed. Treatment-related changes in liver, kidney, spleen and thymus weights were seen in some groups but showed no clear trends. No gross or histopathological lesions were seen in the organs examined but treated groups had considerably less fatty tissue at autopsy than did controls. There was a dose-dependent increase in serum alkaline phosphatase activity. Other serum parameters showed scattered significantly altered value but no clear trends, except for serum GOT values for males fed 12 and 30 ppm for 12 wk; these showed a statistically significant dose-related increase, but were within the normal range and were not considered to indicate hepatotoxicity.

Topics: Animals; Diet; Enzymes; Female; Food Contamination; Fusarium; Kidney; Leukocyte Count; Liver; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mycotoxins; Organ Size; Spleen; Thymus Gland; Trichothecenes; Weight Gain