Technetium-99m-labeled deoxynivalenol from Fusarium mycotoxin alters organ toxicity in BALB/c mice by oral and intravenous route

The toxicity of deoxynivalenol, both intravenously and orally, was investigated in male and female BALB/c mice. Technetium-99m (99m Tc)-labeled deoxynivalenol was administered to mice by tail vein injection and orally dosed. Distribution of labeled deoxynivalenol at 26 hours was monitored by gamma-scintigraphy. In the evaluated organs, the accumulation of radioactive deoxynivalenol was correlated with the amount of radioactivity. In addition, the toxicity of deoxynivalenol was measured by biochemical assays followed by histopathological findings. Kidney and hepatic marker enzymes were significantly increased in intravenously administered deoxynivalenol as compared to orally treated mice. Intravenously treated mice showed severe damage in liver and kidney when compared to those orally exposed. Biodistribution of 99mTc-labeled deoxynivalenol differed between oral and intravenous treatment. In intravenously exposed mice, deoxynivalenol was distributed primarily in the liver and kidney whereas in oral exposure, it was found in the stomach and intestines after 26 hours. Deoxynivalenol toxicity, associated with its biodistribution and organ toxicity, was greatest where it had accumulated. The results show that the toxicity of deoxynivalenol is associated with organ accumulation.(AU)

Dietary restriction prevents diabetogenic effect of streptozotocin in mice.

The beneficial role of dietary restriction (DR) was studied in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in mice. The DR mice exhibited the lower blood glucose (mg/dl) level as compared to ad libitum (AL) fed ones. After 3 months’ DR, STZ treatment to both AL and DR mice showed significant (p<0.001) elevation of the blood glucose level in AL-fed mice, while a lower level of glucose was maintained in DR-fed mice. The ability of maintaining a low blood glucose level in STZ-treated DR mice indicated that STZ might have been ineffective from its action on beta cells of pancreas by long-term DR. Thus, these findings suggested that DR may be an important tool for preventing the diabetic conditions. However, further studies are required to know the mechanism(s) of DR protection against diabetogenic action of STZ in experimental animals.