Maternal protein deprivation enhances the teratogenicity of ochratoxin A in mice

Teratogenic effects of the mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OA) were investigated in protein-deprived mice. Pregnant CD-1 mice were assigned to control (26%), 16%, 8%, and 4% protein diet groups and treated by gavage with 0, 2, or 3 mg/kg OA on gestation day 8 (plug = day 1). They were killed on day 18 and subjected to teratological examination. OA treatment decreased prenatal survival, particularly at the two lowest dietary protein levels. OA at the higher dose also inhibited fetal growth in all groups, with a similar effect at the low dose in the 16% and 4% protein groups. Gross malformations associated with OA were inversely related to dietary protein levels; for example, 26% and 100% of the litters were affected in the 26% and 4% protein groups, respectively, at the high OA dose. A similar trend was also seen for skeletal malformations and variations. Thus maternal protein deprivation was seen to exacerbate adverse effects of OA in a developing mammal. Such results may have implications for areas where lack of adequate food supply may cause consumption of moldy grain by women or domestic animals already living on a protein-deficient diet.