The fate of aflatoxin B1 in animals

Abstract

The study of the fate of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in the rat demonstrated that the main site for the toxin absorption is the small intestine. AFB1 transferred from the intestinal lumen almost exclusively into the mesenteric blood. The increase in the rate of absorption nearly in proportion to the increase in AFB1 concentration in the medium suggests that AFB1 is absorbed substantially by passive diffusion. After being absorbed from the intestine, AFB1 enters exclusively into mesenteric vein and is partially converted to AFL by the blood cell. Comparison of the liver microsomal activity forming AFB1-DNA adduct among various species showed no correlation between the activity and species difference in susceptibility to AFB1 toxicity. However, a reverse relationship was observed between the liver cytosol glutathione-S transferase (GST) activity and species susceptibility, but no relationship was noted between the liver cytosol aldehyde reductase activity toward AFB1 aldehyde activity and species susceptibility. The results indicated the importance of liver cytosol GST activity in species differences in susceptibility to AFB1.