Quantitative cytophotometric analysis of brain neuronal RNA and protein changes in acute T-2 mycotoxin poisoned rats.

Abstract

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (200 g) injected intraperitoneally with T-2 toxin, a trichothecene mycotoxin protein synthesis inhibitor, at dosages of 0.75, 1.0, 1.5 and 6.0 mg/kg (1 LD50 = 0.9 mg/kg) were decapitated at 8 hr post-exposure. Data were obtained on changes in neuronal (perikaryal) RNA levels, protein contents and nucleolar volumes in cerebrocortical (layer III) and striatal (caudate-putamen) brain regions using quantitative azure B-RNA and Coomassie-protein cytophotometry and ocular filar micrometry. Correlative observations were made on changes in brain cytomorphology. Reductions in neuronal RNA/protein contents and nucleolar volume were used as indices of impaired perikaryal functioning. At 8 hr after T-2 toxin poisoning the following results were obtained in cerebrocortical and striatal brain compartments: neuronal RNA contents were generally maintained at control values in both brain regions, however, moderate RNA depletion was evidenced in the cerebral cortex with 1.5 mg/kg T-2 and in the striatum with a 6.0 mg/kg dose; neuronal protein levels were suppressed in a dose-dependent fashion within the cerebrocortex, while in the striatum there was no direct correspondence between protein loss and T-2 dosage; neuronal nucleolar volumes were typically maintained at control levels in both neuronal compartments. Microscopic observations revealed no gross evidence of T-2-induced brain cytopathology. These data indicate that T-2 toxin does not elicit direct cytopathic actions in these two brain regions, thus indicating that cerebrocortical and striatal compartments do not represent primary target sites of T-2 toxicant action.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

• Authors: L J Martin, J D Morse, A Anthony
• Journal: Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology (Toxicon) Vol. 24 Issue 9 Pg. 933-41 ( 1986) ISSN: 0041-0101 [Print] England
• PMID: 2433814 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• Sesquiterpenes
• RNA
• T-2 Toxin

Topics

• Animals
• Brain (drug effects, metabolism)
• Cerebral Cortex (metabolism)
• Corpus Striatum (metabolism)
• Cytophotometry
• Male
• Nerve Tissue Proteins (biosynthesis)
• Neurons (metabolism)
• RNA (biosynthesis)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred Strains
• Sesquiterpenes (poisoning)
• T-2 Toxin (poisoning)