Abstract
T-2 toxin is a mycotoxin produced by some Fusarium species, which may affect the synthesis of DNA and RNA and causes various pathological processes. Till now, the influence of T-2 toxin on the enteric nervous system (ENS) located in the wall of gastrointestinal tract has not been studied. On the other hand, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is one of enteric neuronal factors, whose exact functions in the intestines still remain not fully explained. The present study describes the influence of low doses of T-2 toxin on CART-positive neuronal structures in porcine stomach, duodenum, and descending colon. Distribution of CART was studied using the double immunofluorescence technique in the plexuses of the ENS, as well as in nerve fibers within the circular muscle and mucosal layers of porcine gastrointestinal tract. Generally, after T-2 toxin administration the greater number of CART-LI structures were studied, but intensity of changes depended on part of the ENS and digestive tract fragment studied. The obtained results show that even low doses of T-2 toxin may change the expression of CART in the ENS.
Highlights
Mycotoxins, naturally produced by some representatives of the fungi kingdom, are very numerous and differential group of substances, which often can contaminate the food and may have negative impact on living organisms
cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART)-LI neuronal structures have been noted in the enteric nervous system of the stomach, duodenum, and descending colon in both control
This is a clear difference from previous studies, where neurons immunoreactive to CART have not been noted in this part b Fig. 6 Distribution pattern of nervous structures immunoreactive to protein gene-product 9.5 (PGP 9.5)—used as pan neuronal marker and CART in the wall of porcine duodenum under physiological conditions (a) and after T-2 toxin administration (b); I myenteric plexus, II outer submucous plexus, III inner submucous plexus
Summary
Mycotoxins, naturally produced by some representatives of the fungi kingdom, are very numerous and differential group of substances, which often can contaminate the food and may have negative impact on living organisms. One of the mycotoxins that is important for the human and animal health situation is T-2 toxin, structurally belonging to chemical substances called trichothecenes (Fig. 1), which are characterized by a tetracyclic sesquiterpenoid ring system (Marin et al 2013). This substance is synthetized by some Fusarium species (primarily by F. sporotrichioides, F. langsethiae, F. acuminatum, and F. poae) and it has been described in all most often cultivated over the world cereal species, such as wheat, oats, barley, and corn, as well as in foodstuffs produced from the above-mentioned grains (De Ruyck et al 2015). Longer exposition to this toxin can contribute to the development of alimentary toxic aleukia (ATA), which is characterized by various intestinal and general symptoms including vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, leukopenia, high fever, as well as inflammatory processes within the skin and in some cases leading to death (Lutsky and Mor 1981; De Ruyck et al 2015).
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