Structural and ultrastructural alterations in BALB/c mice: effects of Penicillium citrinum metabolites.

The aims of this work were to determine the effect of feeding BALB/c mice a diet containing culture materials of a citrinin producing strain of Penicillium citrinum (Thom). Changes in hematological parameters, serum chemistry and histological changes in liver, kidney and heart were determined. After 60 days, control treated (CT) mice appeared normal in all respects, whereas, the mice fed the feeds supplemented with Penicillium (CMT) showed decreased weight gain, lower hematocrits, increased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and clear signs of renal and hepatotoxicity based on histological changes. Changes observed in the liver of CMT mice included portal and lobular infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells, with concomitant hepatocellular necrosis, hepatic steatosis, prominent Kupffer's cells, hemosiderin granules in the cytoplasm of periportal hepatocytes and other lipid inclusions in the surrounding mitochondria were also observed. Our findings suggest that in vivo, P. citrinum Thom metabolites, which contain citrinin, could cause illnesses such as toxic hepatitis or intravascular hemolysis.

[Toxic activity of Penicillium citrinum metabolites on Mus musculus mice]. / Actividad de metabolitos de Penicillium citrinum sobre ratones Mus musculus.

The aims of this work were to study the influence of secondary metabolites produced by a Penicillium citrinum strain. Mus musculus mice were fed with a diet containing those metabolites to determine both its influence on their development and the pathological and biochemical changes on experimental animals. Male and female including pregnant females, were studied. One group received commercial feed (A.B.) to which the citrinin- producing mould had been added (LF), another received A.B. contaminated with commercial citrinin (LC). The last group received noncontaminated feed (LT). The animals were weighed weekly, and sacrificed after sixty days, so that they could be studied both macro and microscopically. In LF and LT mice, haematological analysis was carried out and hemosiderin was looked for in urine. The diet of the newborne mice, after weaning, was identical to that of their parent. The treated animals (LF and LC) showed morphological alterations, a significant decrease in weight and morphologic alterations and hemosiderin granules were detected in some of their organs. In LT all breeds survived, none of the mice showed neither macro nor microscopic anomalies and had normal biochemical parameters. Fewer breeds in LF survived, male infertility was detected and some of their haematologic parameters were also measurably lower.

Expresión de isoantígenos glucoconjugados ABH en neoplasias gastrointestinales / Expression of glycoconjugated ABH isoantigens in gastrointestinal neoplasia

El tejido epitelial gastrointestinal normal presenta estructuras glicoesfingolipídicas que son propias de los antígenos ABH, las cuales confieren propiedades biológicas esenciales, dirigen el recambio y el tráfico transcelular y tienen gran importancia para la interacción entre células durante el desarrollo, crecimiento y diferenciación. Está descripto que la glicosilación aberrante es un atributo común del crecimiento neoplásico y uno de los principales determinantes del fenómeno relacionado con el cáncer, como es el crecimiento invasivo de la metástasis. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar la expresión de los antígenos ABH en células epiteliales de neoplasias gastrointestinales. Se trabajó con catorce muestras de tumores gastrointestinales en tacos de parafina aplicando la técnica SRCA (Specific Red Cell Adherence). Se demostró que en 13 de las 14 muestras hubo pérdida total o parcial, o cambio de la expresión antigénica (AU)

Expresión de isoantígenos glucoconjugados ABH en neoplasias gastrointestinales / Expression of glycoconjugated ABH isoantigens in gastrointestinal neoplasia

El tejido epitelial gastrointestinal normal presenta estructuras glicoesfingolipídicas que son propias de los antígenos ABH, las cuales confieren propiedades biológicas esenciales, dirigen el recambio y el tráfico transcelular y tienen gran importancia para la interacción entre células durante el desarrollo, crecimiento y diferenciación. Está descripto que la glicosilación aberrante es un atributo común del crecimiento neoplásico y uno de los principales determinantes del fenómeno relacionado con el cáncer, como es el crecimiento invasivo de la metástasis. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar la expresión de los antígenos ABH en células epiteliales de neoplasias gastrointestinales. Se trabajó con catorce muestras de tumores gastrointestinales en tacos de parafina aplicando la técnica SRCA (Specific Red Cell Adherence). Se demostró que en 13 de las 14 muestras hubo pérdida total o parcial, o cambio de la expresión antigénica