Histopathological changes of mouse digestive tracts induced by trichothecenes were examined lightand scanning electron microscopically. Using ICR mice, acute responses up to 48 hr of the digestive tracts to the mycotoxins were demonstrated. A single dose of T-2 toxin (T-2), f usarenon-X (FX), nivalenol (NIV) and deoxynivalenol (DON) at a dose of 15.6, 10.2, 12.3 and 46 mg/kg b.w., respectively, were incubated to 4-week-old male ICR mice. In the stomach, FX caused a marked dilatation within 48 hr, while the other mycotoxins did not. Histologically, exfoliation ofepithelial cells and bacterial growth on the surface of tissue defects were seen in the glandular stomach of mice treated with T-2 and FX. FX caused necrosis and shortening of gland cells, cell infiltration in submucosa, and thinning of muscle layer most severely among the mycotoxins tested.In contrast, DON or NIV caused ulcer and cell infiltration preferentially in forestomach. In the small intestine were noted 4 processes, i.e. 1) necrosis of crypt immature cells, 2) cell infiltration in mucosa, 3) cystic change of crypt and 4) abnormal arrangement of regenerating villi. The processes 1) and 2) occurred in the treatment with FX, T-2 or DON and the processes 3) and 4) were noted only in the treatment with FX.
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