Abstract
The prenatal effects of mycotoxins were investigated in GBA mice given by stomach tube a single dose of either aflatoxin B1 (4 mg/kg), ochratoxin A (8 mg/kg) or zearalenone (20 mg/kg) on pregnancy day 8 or 9.
Aflatoxin caused foetal anomalies (exencephaly, open eyes, and protrusion of intestines) after exposure on gestation day 8 but not on day 9. The effects (increased prenatal mortality, reduced foetal growth, and a wide variety of malformations) caused by ochratoxin were much more severe and occurred after treatment on either of the 2 days of gestation. Among the spectrum of malformations, predominantly involving the craniofacial complex and the axial skeleton, the most striking was the total aplasia/dysplasia of the upper facial structures. These defects were always accompanied by exencephaly and anophthalmia. Zearalenone caused no effects. It is concluded that of the 3 mycotoxins screened with the technique used, ochratoxin is the most potent teratogen in mice.
Keywords: aflatoxin B, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, prenatal development, interference, mouse
Sammanfattning
Mykotoxinernas prenatala effekter undersöktes hos GBA-möss som via magsond fick en engångsdos av antingen aflatoxin B1 (4 mg/kg), ochratoxin A (8 mg/kg) eller zearalenone (20 mg/kg) vid 8 eller 9 dagars dräktighet.
Hos möss som exponerades för aflatoxin B1 under det 8:e dräktighetsdygnet utvecklades foetala missbildningar (exencephalon, öppna ögon, bukspalt med tarmframfall). Dessa missbildningar återfanns inte hos de möss som exponerats för aflatoxin under 9:e dräktighetsdygnet.
De effekter som orsakades av ochratoxin (ökad prenatal dödlighet, reducerad fostertillväxt samt ett stort antal varierande missbildningar) var mycket gravare, och drabbade foster, från honor vid båda behandlingstillfällena. Missbildningarna var främst lokaliserade till det kraniofasciella komplexet och det axiella skelettet, varvid total hypoplasi/aplasi av ansiktets övre delar var de mest iögonfallande defekterna. Dessa åtföljdes alitid av exencephalon och anophthalmi.
Zearalenone hade inga teratogena effekter.
Undersökningen har således visat, att av de tre mykotoxinerna med den undersökningsteknik som använts, har ochratoxin den mest potenta teratogena effekten hos mus.
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