[Biochemical, hematological and immunological criteria for assessing chronic T-2 mycotoxicosis in mice]

The authors studied the effect of a long-term intragastric administration to CBA X C57Bl/6 male mice of T-2 toxin in doses of 0.067 mg/kg bw a day (1/100 of the LD50) or 0.33 and 0.45 mg/kg a day (1/20 and 1/15 of the LD50) on the liver content of protein, cytochrome P-450 SH-glutathione and on the activity of 10 lysosomal and microsomal enzymes and glutathione transferase. A dose-dependent increase in the activity of lysosomal hydrolases and glutathione transferase localized in cytosol was revealed together with a fall in the activity of microsomal aniline hydroxylase, carboxyl esterase and epoxide hydrolase. Emphasis is laid on a dose-dependent reduction in the liver of nonsedimented activity of lysosomal enzymes. In T-2 mycotoxicosis, the most sensitive and the most stable parameter was the activity of lysosomal enzymes in blood serum. That activity also declined during the recovery period, namely 3 months after discontinuance of toxin administration. Both groups of mice showed a progressive decrease in the blood leukocyte count and lysozyme content, whereas in the spleen, there was a decrease in the number of antibody-forming cells. It is concluded that biochemical, hematological and hematological characteristics should be taken into consideration in evaluating the chronic action of T-2 toxin.