DEPRESSIVE EFFECT OF T-2 TOXIN ON HEPATOCYTE PROLIFERATION UNDER TWO EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS

Abstract

The effect of T-2 mycotoxin on hepatocyte proliferation was investigated in mice using two models of hepatocyte regeneration, i.e. 2/3 partial hepatectomy (Ph) and CCl₄-intoxication (CCl₄). At 2 days after Ph or CCl₄, mice were given T-2 toxin (2 or 4mg/kg, po). Five mice each were killed daily up to 7days after Ph or CCl₄, and they were injected with BrdU (100mg/kg, ip) at I hour before sacrifice. T-2 toxin significantly delayed the recovery of liver weight loss after Ph Or CCl₄, and it also significantly delayed the reduction in size of centrilobular hepatocyte necrosis after CCl₄. In addition, T-2 toxin significantly depressed BrdU-uptake by hepatocytes in the early days after Ph or CCl₄. It can be said that T-2 toxin depressed the proliferation of hepatocytes, resulting in the delay of recovery of liver weight loss. This seems to be related to the inhibitory effect of T-2 toxin on nuclear acid synthesis of hepatocytes.