Studies on apoptotic changes in combined toxicity of citrinin and endosulfan in pregnant wistar rats and their fetuses

Investigation of patulin and citrinin in grape must and wine from grapes naturally contaminated by strains of Penicillium expansum

Twenty three strains of Penicillium expansum, as a predominant species, were isolated from 23 (92%) out of 25 grape samples of 17 different grape varieties. The results of the identification of P. expansum strains were confirmed by a PCR method. Most of the isolates of P. expansum (21/23, 91%), when tested for toxigenicity, were bi-toxigenic: they produced citrinin (CIT) and particularly high amounts of patulin (PAT). A validated UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of PAT and CIT was applied. The limits of quantification (LOQ) for PAT and CIT in grape must and toxigenicity testing samples were 100 and 2 ng/g, respectively. The results of PAT and CIT quantification in 23 grape must samples demonstrated the occurrence of PAT in 10 (43%) grape must samples (mean: 171 ng/g; median: 50 ng/g; and range: 143-644 ng/g) and the occurrence of CIT in two (9%) grape must samples (mean: 1 ng/g; median: 1 ng/g; and range: 2.5-3.5 ng/g). This is the first report on the natural occurrence of CIT in grape must. A validated HPLC-UV-VIS method for the determination of PAT in wine samples was applied, and concentrations in all 23 wine samples were below the LOQ (<10 ng/g).

Combined toxicity of endosulfan and phenanthrene mixtures and induced molecular changes in adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Individual and combined toxicities of endosulfan (ENDO) with phenanthrene (PHE) were evaluated using zebrafish (Danio rerio) adults. The 96-h LC₅₀ values for ENDO and PHE were 4.6 μg L^-1 and 920 μg L^-1, respectively. To evaluate the mixture toxicity, LC₁₀ and LC₅₀ concentrations were grouped into four combinations as ENDO-LC₁₀ + PHE-LC₁₀, ENDO-LC₁₀ + PHE-LC₅₀, ENDO-LC₅₀ + PHE-LC₁₀, and ENDO-LC₅₀ + PHE-LC₅₀, and their acute toxicities were determined. The combination of LC₅₀-ENDO and LC₁₀-PHE exhibited a synergistic effect. In addition, acetylcholinesterase activity decreased in zebrafish bodies exposed to ENDO with or without PHE. Combined treatments induced higher glutathione S-transferase activity compared to individual treatments. Carboxylesterase activity increased in both heads and bodies of ENDO-treated fishes compared with PHE-treated fishes. Using RT-qPCR technique, CYP1A gene expression significantly up-regulated in all combinations, whereas CYP3A was unchanged, suggesting that enzymes involved in defense may play different roles in the detoxification. CYP7A1 gene responsible for bile acid biosynthesis is dramatically down-regulated after exposure to the synergistic combination exposure, referring that the synergistic effect may be resulted from the reduction of bile production in zebrafishes. Among gender-related genes, CYP11A1 and CYP17A1 genes in female zebrafish decreased after treatment with ENDO alone and combination of LC₅₀-ENDO and LC₁₀-PHE. This might be related to a reduction in cortisol production. The overall results indicated that ENDO and PHE were toxic to zebrafish adults both individually and in combination, and that their co-presence induced changes in the expression of genes responsible for metabolic processes and defense mechanisms.

Effect of feeding graded doses of citrinin on apoptosis and oxidative stress in male Wistar rats through the F1 generation

The objective of the present study was to study the effect of graded doses of citrinin (CIT) on apoptosis and oxidative stress in male Wistar rats till F1 generation. The animals were divided into four groups comprising 25 males and 25 females each, that is, group I: 1 ppm CIT; group II: 3 ppm CIT; group III: 5 ppm CIT; and group IV was kept as a control. The male and female animals of all the groups were kept separately and were fed basal rations containing the above-mentioned concentrations of CIT for 10 weeks. After 10 weeks, male and female animals of respective groups were kept for mating (one male/two females). After getting 10 pregnant females, the males were killed. These 10 pregnant females were allowed to give birth to young ones (F1 generation) naturally which were fed CIT in the above-mentioned doses till the age of 6 weeks and then were killed. Apoptosis was analysed in kidneys, liver and testes by DNA ladder pattern, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labelling assay and Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Besides, tissue oxidative stress was also analysed. It was concluded in the present study that CIT induces its toxic effects till F1 generation, and apoptosis and oxidative stress both play a very important role in toxicity. The effect of CIT was observed in a dose-dependent manner. However, in kidneys, both the mechanisms (apoptosis and oxidative stress) play their role in inflicting renal damage, while in liver only reactive oxygen species play a major role. Finally, the CIT toxicity did not lead to apoptosis and oxidative stress in male gonads till F1 generation.