The action of aflatoxin B1 on the rat liver

Variation with age in response of broilers to aflatoxin

This study investigated the effects on growth and composition of the blood of dietary aflatoxin fed at levels of 0, 2.5, or 5.0 microgram/g of diet for a three week period beginning at 1, 7, 14, and 21 days of age in commercial broilers. Packed cell volume (PCV), erythrocyte counts, mean corpuscular volume, hemoglobin content and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, body weight, and mortality were measured weekly. Plasma cholesterol and total plasma protein levels were determined weekly. Dietary aflatoxin at levels of 2.5 and 5.0 microgram of aflatoxin per gram of diet when fed to young chicks for three weeks, beginning at either one or seven days, depressed body weight and PCV in a dose related fashion. Body weight and PCV continued to be depressed by the 5.0 microgram/g diets in chicks treated from 2 to 5 weeks of age but not at the lower dosages. The feeding of aflatoxin at levels of up to 5.0 microgram aflatoxin per gram of diet from 3 to 6 weeks of age did not significantly depress body weight or PCV from control levels. Plasma cholesterol and total protein were found to be more sensitive to aflatoxin treatment at the later ages than body weight and other blood values. Plasma cholesterol was significantly depressed by the 5.0 microgram/g level of aflatoxin in all treatment periods, but the 2.5 mirogram/g level of aflatoxin did not significantly reduce cholesterol during the 3 to 6 week treatment period. Plasma proteins were found to be the most sensitive criteria for detecting broiler susceptibility to aflatoxin, being depressed by all levels of aflatoxin for all age groups.

The influence of vitamin A status on the response of chickens to aflatoxin B1 and changes in liver lipid metabolism associated with aflatoxicosis

1 A series of experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary retinol status on chickens ingesting aflatoxin B1. The effects of dietary supplementation with biotin and alpha-tocopherol were also examined. 2. Aflatoxin B1 levels greater than 1 mg/kg diet had a detrimental effect on 'liveability', body-weight gain, food intake and food conversion efficiency. When fed for more than 2 weeks aflatoxin increased relative liver weight and liver lipid concentration. These effects were less pronounced with avitaminotic A chickens. 3. A synergistic effect on hydropericardium development was observed between aflatoxin B1 and retinol. This effect was not observed when the dietary level of alpha-tocopherol was increased tenfold. 4. The specific activities of certain hepatic lipogenic and amino acid-metabolizing enzymes were influenced by aflatoxin ingestion. A reduction in lipogenic enzyme activity was observed before a reduction in the activities of amino acid-metabolizing enzymes. 5. Liver fatty acid composition was significantly influenced by aflatoxin B1. The extent of these changes was reduced by the inclusion of additional dietary biotin.

Short-term effects of aflatoxin B1 on serum lipids in subhuman primates

Aflatoxin B1 significantly depressed serum lipid levels in specimens of Cercopithecus aethiops, Cercopithecus mona, Erythrocebus patas and Papio anubis. Serum cholesterol, total phospholipids and total lipids were not affected to the same extent.

Effect of aflatoxin B1 on hepatic polyribosomes and protein synthesis in the rat

This study was concerned with the effect of aflatoxin B1 on protein synthesis in rat liver. Specifically, the effect of the administration of aflatoxin B1 (6.0 mg/kg body weight) on hepatic polyribosomes (free and membranebound), protein synthesis in vitro, and initiation factors activity of rats within 3-12 h was investigated. The results revealed that aflatoxin B1 rapidly led to disaggregation of free and membrane-bound polyribosomes, to inhibition of in vitro protein synthesis by both populations of polyribosomes, to little or no effect on the activities of initiation factors, and to defective ribosomes, particularly the 60S ribosomal subnits, of both types of polyribosomes. Comparative studies on the effects of aflatoxin B1 and actinomycin D revealed progressive disaggregation by both hepatic free and membrane-bound polyribosomes after aflatoxin B1 but not only of the free polyribosomes after actinomycin D.

Some studies of the effects of aflatoxin B1 in vivo and in vitro on nucleic acid synthesis in rat and mouse

The mouse compared with the rat, is more resistent to the acute toxic action of aflatoxin B1 and is refractory to its hepatocarcinogenic properties. Aflatoxin B1 inhibits DNA synthesis more strongly than RNA synthesis in the rat, and both nucleic acid syntheses more strongly in rat than in the mouse. Mouse hepatic microsomes, like those of the rat, are capable of metabolizing aflatoxin B1 in vitro in the presence of NADPH, to an active form which binds to DNA both in solution and in intact nuclei and also inhibits nuclear RNA synthesis. Non NADPH-dependent binding of aflatoxin B1 to nuclei is not effective in inhibiting RNA polymerase and is largely removed by washing with lipid solvents. Mouse nuclear RNA polymerases particularly Mn 2+ (NH4)2SO4 primed acitivity are more resistant to inhibition in vitro by activated aflatoxin B1 than are the corresponding enzyme activities in rat liver nuclei. This would appear to be due to the bound aflatoxin B1 being less efficient in the case of the mouse nucleus, in inhibiting RNA synthesis. Mouse liver slices exhibit a much lesser degree of inhibition of RNA synthesis by aflatoxin B1 than do rat liver slices. Accompanying this is a lower level of binding of aflatoxin B1 to subcellular particulate fractions in the mouse liver slice compared to the rat, this disparity being most marked in the case of the nuclear fraction. The suggestion is made that the resistance of RNA synthesis in the mouse liver, to aflatoxin B1, and perhaps also resistance to its toxicity, is dependent, not on a lower capacity to activate the toxin, but (a) on a less efficient inhibition of RNA synthesis by nuclear bound toxin, and (b) a detoxifying mechanism at least partially situated in the cytosol fraction.

Interaction of aflatoxin B1 with some biologically important substances

The interaction of aflatoxin B1 with a number of biologically important substances has been investigated by spectrophotometric and fluorimetric techniques. The ultra-violet absorption of tryptophan, adenosine, RNA and DNA were altered by the addition of aflatoxin B1. Some amino-acids, purine and pyrimidine derivatives, bovine-serum albumin and DNA quenched the fluorescence of aflatoxin B1. Fluorescence polarization data suggested that the interaction of aflatoxin B1 with bovine-serum albumin was stronger than that with DNA.

Incorporation of (2-14C)acetate into lipids of mink (Mustela vison) liver and intestine during in vitro and in vivo treatment with aflatoxin B1

The in vitro and in vivo incorporation of (2-14C)acetate into lipids of mink (Mustela vison) liver and intestines was studied. In vitro, a dose of aflatoxin B1 as small as 7.5 mug/ml of medium reduced by 20% the amount of (2-14C)acetate incorporated into lipids of mink liver slices, whereas 180 mug caused 76% reduction in the synthesis of lipids from the radioactive precusor. Similar inhibition of lipid synthesis by aflatoxin also was observed with tissues from mink intestines and fatty liver. The degree of inhibition (19 to 84% for tissue from intestines and 19 to 64% for tissue from fatty livers) depended on the amount of aflatoxin B1 (7.5 TO 180 MUG) present in the medium. In vivo, a substantially increased amount of 14C-labeled lipids was found in the livers of mink injected with 600 mug of aflatoxin B1 per kg of body weight 20, 28, and 40 h earlier. However, no appreciable difference in incorporation of (2-14C)acetate into lipids was observed between toxin-treated and control animals when these animals were sacrificed and examined for 14C-labeled lipids at 4 and 10 h after toxin was administered.

The anemia caused by aflatoxin

The effects of graded doses of dietary aflatoxin (0, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mug./g.) on hemoglobin, packed blood cell volume, erythrocyte count, leucocyte counts, bone marrow lipid, and bone marrow nucleic acids of chickens were measured. The hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and erythrocyte count were reduced significantly (P less than 0.05) to about the same extent by any given dose. Microscopic examination of stained smears of the bone marrow revealed a hyperplastic response including the granulocytic elements. Chemical analyses of the marrow revealed a decreased lipid content and an increased content of ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid. Total leucocytes were increased about three fold by aflatoxin (10 mug./g). Differential leucocyte counts revealed that the heterophils were increased while the eosinophils were unaffected and the basophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes were decreased. The increase in nucleic acids of the marrow and in circulating leucocytes occurred with doses which inhibit growth rate. These data suggest that aflatoxin causes a hemolytic anemia in chickens, that aflatoxin, by itself, is not involved in the hemorrhagic anemia syndrome of chickens, and that aflatoxin does not cause in chickens a general inhibition of ribonucleic acid and protein synthesis as assumed from studies on rats.

Effect of aflatoxin B1 on pyridine nucleotides and NADP linked dehydrogenases

The effect of a single interaperitoneal injection (6 mg/kg body weight) of aflatoxin B1 in propylene glycol on pyridine nucleotides and NDP linked dehydrogenases was studied 24 h after administration of the toxin. The liver showed a decrease in total proteins and pyridine nucleotides though levels of NADP and NADPH remained unchanged. Levels of NAD and NADH were decreased. The activities of hepatic of hwpRIX of hepatic malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) were not altered though ICDH showed an increase when expressed on protein basis. However, there was a significance decrease in the activity of combined HMP dehydrogenases. Adipose tissue showed increased activities of the HMP dehydrogenasess.

Ultrastructural alterations and modifications of nuclear RNA of rat liver by the combined action of thioacetamide and aflatoxin

When aflatoxin is administered to thioacetamide-treated rats, the synthesis of nuclear RNA not only stops but the RNA that had accumulated in the nuclei by thioacetamide action disappears, probably by degradation "in situ" as none appears in the cytoplasm. Morphologically, the lesions provoked by aflatoxin add to those caused by thioacetamide. In the gigantic nucleoli that develop upon exposure to thioacetamide, aflatoxin provokes atypical segregations that result in the formation of larger and larger spaces in the nucleoli.

Translational step inhibited in vivo by aflatoxin B1 in rat-liver polysomes

Aflatoxin B1 strongly inhibits protein synthesis in rat liver cells. We previously demonstrated that this inhibition could be divided into two steps: up to 5 h aflatoxin blocks protein synthesis directly and specifically at the polysome level; beyond 7 h protein synthesis inhibition appears chiefly as a consequence of transcription impairment due to drug action. This paper confirms the foregoing results and represents an attempt to localize the translational step inhibited in vivo by aflatoxin B1. We used the simulation study developed by Li, Kisilevsky, Wasan and Hammond, 1972 (Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 272, 451-462) to determine precisely the site inhibited in vivo after drug intoxication. This analysis is based on two parameters: the kinetics of polysome labeling to follow the nascent peptide synthesis, and the kinetics of supernatant labeling to follow the completed protein synthesis. Up to 5 h after dosing, aflatoxin specifically inhibits the elongation and/or termination steps during protein synthesis; after longer periods of time inhibition occurs essentially at the initiation step. When the intracellular concentration of aflatoxin is too high, particularly 2 h after dosing, each step of protein synthesis is blocked. Polypeptide synthesis by the postmitochondrial supernatants isolated from aflatoxin-treated animals is impaired in the same proportion as protein synthesis in vivo. The damage caused by aflatoxin is mostly observed on microsomes. However, purified polysomes isolated from aflatoxin-treated rats synthesize proteins in vitro to the same extent as those from controls. These results suggest that aflatoxin metabolite(s) are bound to polysomes with noncovalent bonds. These active metabolites are probably lost during polysome isolation procedures. Finally, relationships between protein metabolism and aflatoxin carcinogenesis are discussed.

Effect of aflatoxins on oxidative phosphorylation by rat liver mitochondria

The in vitro effect of aflatoxins M1, B1 and G1 on oxidative phosphorylation by rat liver mitochondria with succinate as substrate has been studied. All these toxins inhibit the electron transport chain at a 1-10-4 M concentration and the site of inhibition is between cytochrome b and cytochrome c or c1. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) uncouples oxidative phosphorylation at a concentration of 1-10-6 M and reduces the ADP:O ratio, whereas aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) at 1-10-6 M concentration uncouples oxidative phosphorulation but does not affect the ADP:O ratio. At a concentration of 1-10-5 M, AFB1 also decreases the ADP:O ratio along with the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. Aflatoxin G1 (AFG1) acts as an uncoupler at a relatively higher concentration of 1-10-4 M. Preincubation of mitochondria with these aflatoxins resulted in inhibition of respiration and uncoupling of rat liver mitochondria.

The effect of aflatoxin B 1 on normal and cortisol-stimulated rat liver ribonucleic acid synthesis

1. Aflatoxin B(1), administered in vivo, inhibits the incorporation of [(14)C]orotic acid in vivo into rat liver nuclei, and also inhibits both Mg(2+)- and Mn(2+)-dependent RNA polymerase activities in nuclei assayed in vitro. 2. Aflatoxin B(1) inhibits the cortisol-induced increase in incorporation of [(14)C]leucine in vivo, but does not affect the control value of this activity. 3. Aflatoxin B(1) administered in vivo inhibits the increase in nuclear Mg(2+)-dependent RNA polymerase activity, assayed in vitro, which results from the treatment with cortisol. 4. Adrenalectomy causes a decrease in Mg(2+)-dependent RNA polymerase activity. The effect on this enzymic activity of adrenalectomy plus treatment with aflatoxin B(1) is no greater than that of treatment with aflatoxin B(1) alone. 5. These results suggest that the inhibition of cortisol-stimulated biochemical pathways by aflatoxin B(1) is due to an inhibition of cortisol-stimulated RNA synthesis. 6. The cytoplasmic action of aflatoxin is thought to be due to a competition for receptor sites on the endoplasmic reticulum between steroid hormones and aflatoxin B(1). No evidence was obtained for a similar competition for nuclear receptor sites between [(3)H]cortisol and aflatoxin B(1). 7. No differences were observed between the activities of RNA polymerase preparations solubilized from control or aflatoxin-inhibited nuclei. 8. No differences in ;melting' profiles were observed between DNA and chromatin preparations isolated from control nuclei or from aflatoxin-inhibited nuclei. 9. It is suggested that aflatoxin B(1) exerts its effect on RNA polymerase by decreasing the template capacity of the chromatin and that the aflatoxin ;target' area of the chromatin includes that region which is stimulated by cortisol. This process, however, does not involve inhibiting the movement of cortisol from the outside of the hepatic cell to the nuclear chromatin.