Leukoencephalomalacia and hemorrhage in the brain of rabbits gavaged with mycotoxin fumonisin B1.
Abstract: Two of five pregnant rabbits gavaged with purified fumonisin B1 at 1.75 mg/kg/day died, one after 9 and one after 13 doses. Microscopic examination revealed focal small hemorrhages in cerebral white matter in both animals, with malacia and hemorrhage also present in the hippocampus of one. The lesions were bilateral. Both animals also had marked degeneration of renal tubule epithelium and of hepatocytes. Apoptosis was the dominant degenerative change in kidney and liver. Fumonisin is known to cause leukoencephalomalacia and hemorrhage in equines, but CNS changes associated with exposure to fumonisins apparently have not been reported in other species. This preliminary observation in rabbits is reported to alert other investigators of a potential model of the disease in equines, as well as for investigation of potential mechanisms of toxicity to the CNS.
Publication Date: 1996-01-01 PubMed ID: 8680754DOI: 10.1002/19960401nt7Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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The researchers carried out a study on pregnant rabbits, which involved exposing them to a mycotoxin called fumonisin B1, and noted the harmful effects on their brains and other organs. The expected outcome was to study this as a potential model for a similar disease in horses and to explore the toxin’s mechanism of causing harm to the central nervous system.
Methodology
- The research was conducted on five pregnant rabbits, which were fed with a mycotoxin called fumonisin B1.
- The dosage administered was 1.75 mg/kg/day for an undisclosed period.
- The method of administration used was ‘gavage,’ i.e., directly into the stomach through a feeding tube.
Findings
- Two of the five rabbits died after receiving 9 and 13 doses respectively.
- Upon microscopic examination, the researchers observed small hemorrhages, or abnormal bleeding, in the cerebral white matter of the rabbits’ brains.
- One of the animals exhibited malacia (a condition of softening tissues) and hemorrhage in the hippocampus. The lesions in both animals were bilateral (occurring on both sides).
- Apart from the brain, significant degeneration was spotted in the renal tubule epithelium (cells lining the kidney tubules) and in the hepatocytes (liver cells).
- The main degenerative change observed was apoptosis, which is programmed cell death, in the kidney and liver.
Implications of the Study
- Fumonisin is already known to cause leukoencephalomalacia, a brain disease, and hemorrhage in equines (horses), but such central nervous system (CNS) changes hadn’t been reported in other species before this research.
- These preliminary observations in rabbits alert researchers to a potential model for studying the disease in horses.
- This study could also assist in investigating the potential mechanisms through which fumonisin causes toxicity to the CNS.
Cite This Article
APA
Bucci TJ, Hansen DK, LaBorde JB.
(1996).
Leukoencephalomalacia and hemorrhage in the brain of rabbits gavaged with mycotoxin fumonisin B1.
Nat Toxins, 4(1), 51-52.
https://doi.org/10.1002/19960401nt7 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Pathology Division, Pathology Associates International, National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, Arkansas 72079, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Apoptosis / drug effects
- Carcinogens, Environmental / toxicity
- Cerebral Hemorrhage / chemically induced
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Encephalomalacia / chemically induced
- Female
- Food Contamination
- Fumonisins
- Fusarium / metabolism
- Kidney / cytology
- Kidney / drug effects
- Kidney / pathology
- Liver / cytology
- Liver / drug effects
- Liver / pathology
- Mycotoxins / toxicity
- Pregnancy
- Rabbits
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Karaman EF, Abudayyak M, Ozden S. The role of chromatin-modifying enzymes and histone modifications in the modulation of p16 gene in fumonisin B(1)-induced toxicity in human kidney cells. Mycotoxin Res 2023 Aug;39(3):271-283.
- Garvey M, Rowan NJ. Pathogenic Drug Resistant Fungi: A Review of Mitigation Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2023 Jan 13;24(2).
- Park J, Chang H, Hong S, Kim D, Chung S, Lee C. A Decrease of Incidence Cases of Fumonisins in South Korean Feedstuff between 2011 and 2016. Toxins (Basel) 2017 Sep 15;9(9).
- Ghosh B, Lal H, Srivastava A. Review of bioaerosols in indoor environment with special reference to sampling, analysis and control mechanisms. Environ Int 2015 Dec;85:254-72.
- Ghiasian SA, Aghamirian MR, Maghsood AH, Shephard GS, van der Westhuizen L. Occurrence of fumonisins in maize imported into Iran during 2001-2002. Mycotoxin Res 2009 Mar;25(1):25-8.
- Rocha LO, Nakai VK, Braghini R, Reis TA, Kobashigawa E, Corrêa B. Mycoflora and co-occurrence of fumonisins and aflatoxins in freshly harvested corn in different regions of Brazil. Int J Mol Sci 2009 Nov 24;10(11):5090-103.
- Yazar S, Omurtag GZ. Fumonisins, trichothecenes and zearalenone in cereals. Int J Mol Sci 2008 Nov;9(11):2062-2090.
- Ewuola EO, Gbore FA, Ogunlade JT, Bandyopadhyay R, Niezen J, Egbunike GN. Physiological response of rabbit bucks to dietary fumonisin: performance, haematology and serum biochemistry. Mycopathologia 2008 Feb;165(2):99-104.
- Bennett JW, Klich M. Mycotoxins. Clin Microbiol Rev 2003 Jul;16(3):497-516.
- Camargos SM, Soares LM, Sawazaki E, Bolonhezi D, Castro JL, Bortolleto N. Accumulation of fumonisins B1 and B2 in freshly harvested Brazilian commercial maize at three locations during two nonconsecutive seasons. Mycopathologia 2002;155(4):219-28.
- Pozzi CR, Corrêa B, Xavier JG, Direito GM, Orsi RB, Matarazzo SV. Effects of prolonged oral administration of fumonisin B1 and aflatoxin B1 in rats. Mycopathologia 2001;151(1):21-7.
- Ali O, Agyarko E, Gerencsér Z, Balogh K, Mézes M, Kovács M, Maki M, Besselma N, Yakubu HG, Szabó A. Differential organ responses to fumonisins in rabbits: kidney, liver, and spleen membrane fatty acid composition, oxidation markers, and histopathology. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1599805.
- Tsouloufi TK. An overview of mycotoxicoses in rabbits. J Vet Diagn Invest 2024 Sep;36(5):638-654.
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