ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the effects of T-2 toxin on expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and HGF receptor (C-Met) in articular cartilage and epiphyseal cartilage of rats under low selenium condition.Methods:Twenty-four healthy male SD rats weighted 60-80 g were randomly divided into conventional diet group (selenium content of 101.5 μg/kg) and low-selenium diet group (selenium content of 1.1 μg/kg), with 12 rats in each group. After 30 days of feeding, the conventional diet group was further divided into conventional group and T-2 toxin group (100 μg·kg -1·d -1), and the low-selenium diet group was further divided into low-selenium group and low-selenium+T-2 toxin group (100 μg·kg -1·d -1), with 6 rats in each group. After 30 days of feeding, the rats were sacrificed and the cartilage of knee joint was taken, the morphological changes of knee articular cartilage and epiphyseal cartilage were observed by HE staining under light microscope. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of HGF and C-Met in knee articular cartilage and epiphyseal cartilage, and positive expression rates of HGF and C-Met were calculated. Results:Under light microscope, chondrocytes of articular cartilage and epiphyseal cartilage in low-selenium+T-2 toxin group were sparse, and the necrosis and structural area were found in the deep layer, and the extracellular matrix of chondrocytes in the region was degraded and light stained, and proliferating granulation tissue was visible nearby. The positive expression rates of HGF in articular cartilage [(21.97 ± 6.90)%, (49.41 ± 8.24)%, (76.39 ± 5.88)%] and epiphyseal cartilage [(23.36 ± 12.49)%, (58.43 ± 14.48)%, (66.59 ± 10.83)%] of rats in low-selenium, T-2 toxin and low-selenium+T-2 toxin groups were higher than those in conventional group [(9.13 ± 6.01)%, (11.14 ± 4.67)%, P < 0.05]. The positive expression rates of C-Met in articular cartilage [(25.34 ± 7.53)%, (58.21 ± 12.54)%, (81.46 ± 7.89)%] and epiphyseal cartilage [(35.21 ± 4.71)%, (40.84 ± 2.03)%, (49.41 ± 6.29)%] of rats in low-selenium, T-2 toxin and low-selenium+T-2 toxin groups were higher than those in conventional group [(11.21 ± 5.11)%, (12.12 ± 4.71)%, P < 0.05]. Conclusion:T-2 toxin may affect the expression of HGF and C-Met in articular cartilage and epiphyseal cartilage of rats under low selenium condition.