Abstract
ABSTRACT This study was designed to elucidate long‐term pathological effects of ochratoxin A, one of the food contaminating mycotoxins, on the developing brain in mice. A single intraperitoneal injection of ochratoxin A at a dose of 2 or 3 mg/kg was given to pregnant mice on day 10 of gestation. They were allowed to give birth and the offspring were examined 6 weeks after birth. Their body weight, brain weight, brain size, thickness and cell packing density of dorsal neo‐cortex in histological sections were examined. Growth of basal dendrites of pyramidal neurons in the layer V of dorsal neocortex was also examined with Golgi‐Cox specimens in terms of number of dendrites directly arising from the perikaryon, number of endings of dendrites, branching index (No. of endings/No. of arisings), mean distance from the perikaryon to the tips of dendrites, and number of intersections of dendrites with the zonal boundaries.Significant changes were found in brain weight, anteroposterior length of cerebrum, mean distance from the perikaryon to the tips of dendrites and number of intersections of dendrites with the zonal boundaries. These parameters can be recommended as sensitive ones in order to estimate rather weak effects of cyto‐toxic chemical agents exposed in utero on the development of cerebral cortex.
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