RESUMO
Ochratoxin A [OA] is a toxic metabolite produced by Aspergillus ochraceus. OA is a potent agent causing kidney and liver damage, carcinogen, mutagen, immunosuppressive and teratogen. L-Cysteine [Cys] plays and important role in natural detoxification mechanisms by several ways inside the body; beside its effect and the related compounds [-SH group] could inhibit the toxin production by such fungi in vitro studies. In the present work, we studied the possible protective role of Cys against OA in rats. In a 7 days experiment, intraperitoneal [I.P] injection of Cys [300 mg/kg.b.wt.] has proven useful against OA toxicity [1/2] LD50] in rats. In more prolonged experiment, Cys, OA, or Cys prior OA with 15 min. [Cys+OA] were I.P injected for 30 successive days. Clinical symptoms, mortality rate, post mortum findings, weight gain, liver and kidney weights, hemograme, liver and kidney function tests were monitored weekly during the experimental time. No mortalities were detected in the groups treated with Cys+OA. Rats treated with OA were decreased significantly in body weight gain, liver and kidney weight than other treated groups. OA caused anaemia, leucopenia, neutrophilia, evaluation of ALT, AST and AP activities, mild hyperglycemia hypoproteinaemia and elevation of urea and creatinine values. Cys+OA treatment minimized the toxic effect of OA on liver and kidney as evidenced by the tested parameters. Administration of Cys only resulted in a slight deviations than normal expecially in RBC and lymphocytic count, ALT activity and total proteins