Experimental Studies on Toxicity and Carcinogenicity of Fungus Fusarium Moniliforme Metabolite Fumonisin B1, in Rats

Abstract

The toxicity of feeding Fusarium moniliforme MRC- 826 culture material were examined in male sprague-Dawley rats. Four week-old rats were allotted randomly to dietary treatments containing 0; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7 and 8% fumonisin culture material, for 15; 30 and 45 days. Rats fed fumonisin culture material (FCM) that supplied 2-8 g/loog diet had non­ significantly decrease in food intakes; body weight gains feed efficiency; absolute organs weight for 30 and 45 consecutive days. Erythrocytosis, elevated haematocrits and haemoglobin levels were attributed to dehydration; little evidence of nephrotoxicity in treated rats were evident by clinical changes including elevated S. uric acid; S. urea; S. creatinine and S. alkaline phosphatase, S. level of sodium and potassium, and by subtle changes in kidney morphology. Serum biochemistry also indicated that the liver was an important target organ in Fumonisin B 1-treated rats. Significant increase in serum ALT;