Citrinin mycotoxicosis in the syrian hamster

Abstract

Citrinin, dissolved in either a solution of equal parts of dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and 50% ethanol (EtOH) or 0.5 N-sodium hydroxide (NaOH), was administered by the ip or oral route to weanling Syrian hamsters. The single-dose ip LD 50 for citrinin dissolved in DMSO-50% EtOH, determined 72 hr after injection, was 66 mg/kg: for citrinin in 0-5 N-NaOH it was 75 mg/kg. The oral LD 50 for a single dose of citrinin dissolved in 0.5 N-NaOH was 220 mg/kg. The LD 50 values for seven daily doses of citrinin dissolved in 0.5 N-NaOH and given by the ip or oral route were 43 and 67 mg/kg/day respectively. Lesions in hamsters given single or multiple doses of citrinin were primarily found in the kidneys and included slight to marked necrosis of the renal cortical tubular epithelium, tubular calcification, the presence of protein and protein casts in the renal tubules and tubular dilation. The renal lesions in hamsters given multiple doses of citrinin were no more severe than those found in hamsters given only a single dose.