Structural and ultrastructural alterations in BALB/c mice: effects of Penicillium citrinum metabolites

The aims of this work were to determine the effect of feeding BALB/c mice a diet containing culture materials of a citrinin producing strain of Penicillium citrinum (Thom). Changes in hematological parameters, serum chemistry and histological changes in liver, kidney and heart were determined. After 60 days, control treated (CT) mice appeared normal in all respects, whereas, the mice fed the feeds supplemented with Penicillium (CMT) showed decreased weight gain, lower hematocrits, increased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and clear signs of renal and hepatotoxicity based on histological changes. Changes observed in the liver of CMT mice included portal and lobular infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells, with concomitant hepatocellular necrosis, hepatic steatosis, prominent Kupffer's cells, hemosiderin granules in the cytoplasm of periportal hepatocytes and other lipid inclusions in the surrounding mitochondria were also observed. Our findings suggest that in vivo, P. citrinum Thom metabolites, which contain citrinin, could cause illnesses such as toxic hepatitis or intravascular hemolysis.