Antagonistic Effect of Se on the T-2 Toxin-Induced Changes in the Ultrastructure and Mitochondrial Function of Cultured Chicken Embryonic Chondrocytes.

Abstract

T-2 toxin extracted from a strain of Fusarium tricinctum has a structure similar to that of the Fusarium mycotoxin found in grains in Kaschin-Beck Disease endemic areas. By scanning and freeze-fracture transmission electron microscope observations, we found that 0.01ppm T-2 toxin caused a significant decrease of collagen microfibrils in the extracellular matrix and intramembrane particles on the protoplasmic face of the plasma membrane of cultured chicken embryonic chondrocytes. In addition, T-2 toxin obviously reduced the activities of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase and H+-ATPase, and the sensitivity of the latter to oligomycin, of chondrocytes. In our experiment we found that, when 0.01ppm T-2 toxin was added in the presence of 1ppm Na2SeO3 in the culture, the decreases in collagen microfibril and intramembrane particle numbers could not be seen and that the activities of cytochrome c oxidase and H+-ATPase and the sensitivity of the latter to oligomycin were less decreased. Furthermore, the experimental result showed that the effect of Se on chondrocytes is concentration dependent and that 1ppm of Na2SeO3 is the optimal concentration. Thus we conclude that Se deficiency may be an important factor for the pathogenesis of Kaschin-Beck disease.