Abstract
BackgroundPatulin, a toxic mold metabolite, has been found as natural contaminant of processed fruits, most notably apples, apple juices and other apple-based products. A number of adverse health effects in humans and animals are associated with patulin intoxication. The current study was performed to analyse possible toxic effects of patulin on femoral bone microstructure in adult rabbits in detail. Fourteen clinically healthy four-month-old rabbits of both sexes (6 males and 8 females) were included in the study. Animals from the experimental groups (group E♂, n = 3; group E♀, n = 4) were injected intramuscularly with patulin at dose 10 μg/kg body weight two times a week for 28 days. The dose of patulin was estimated based on the maximum permitted level of patulin for apple products intended for infants and young children. Three males and four females without patulin administration served as controls (groups C♂ and C♀). Cortical bone thickness and qualitative and quantitative histological characteristics of compact bone tissue were investigated.ResultsIntramuscular applications of patulin significantly increased the thickness of cortical bone in both sexes of rabbits. In patulin-exposed males, an absence of primary vascular longitudinal bone tissue near the endosteal border was observed, which could be associated with intensive bone remodeling. Femoral diaphyses of females displayed a lower number of secondary osteons in the middle part of the substantia compacta, and occurrence of the osteons near the periosteum. This could indicate alterations in bone turnover. Histomorphometrical evaluations showed significantly increased sizes of the primary osteons’ vascular canals (P < 0.05) in males exposed to patulin possibly due to mycotoxin-induced increased levels of testosterone.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates significant impact of intramuscular application of patulin on bone microstructure in adult rabbits. Moreover, we have found that the effects of patulin on qualitative and quantitative histological characteristics of compact bone are sex-dependent.
Highlights
Patulin, a toxic mold metabolite, has been found as natural contaminant of processed fruits, most notably apples, apple juices and other apple-based products
In the groups E♂ (n = 3) and E♀ (n = 4), adult rabbits were intramuscularly injected with patulin (Sigma Aldrich, Munich, Germany) at dose 10 μg/kg bw dissolved in saline two times per week for 28 days
Primary vascular radial bone tissue composed of branching or non-branching vascular canals radiating from the marrow cavity, irregular and dense Haversian bone characterized by the occurrence of scattered secondary osteons and large numbers of secondary osteons, respectively, were present
Summary
A toxic mold metabolite, has been found as natural contaminant of processed fruits, most notably apples, apple juices and other apple-based products. A number of adverse health effects in humans and animals are associated with patulin intoxication. 4-hydroxy-4H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-2(6H)-one, is a mycotoxin produced by several species of Penicillium, Aspergillus and Byssochlamys [6, 7]. This mycotoxin is mainly found in apples and apple products [6, 8, Duranova et al Acta Vet Scand (2015) 57:50. Based on valid international standards, a maximum permitted level of patulin is 50 μg/l in fruit products [12]. Patulin treatment was found to activate protein degradation, especially proteasome activities, and sulfur amino acid metabolism [23]
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