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Consistent striatal damage in rats induced by 3-nitropropionic acid and cultures of arthrinium fungus
1Institute of Occupational Medicine, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, Beijing.
Abstract:
Arthrinium fungi were cultivated from the samples of mildewed sugarcane which caused acute encephalopathy and delayed dystonia in children. The Arthrinium cultures (AC) contained 5 mg/ml 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NPA) after being inactivated and concentrated. A neuropathological study was carried out in rats intoxicated with 3-NPA and AC, respectively. Consistent bilateral striatal necrosis was found in rats with both poisonings, and the severity was well correlated with persistent recumbency which was a clinical indicator of the development of morphological brain lesions. A reproducible animal model of striatal damage has been produced in rats by IP injections of 10 mg/kg 3-NPA, 6 times a day, with an interval of 1.5 h for 3-5 days. The clinical and neuropathological manifestations in rats dosed with AC were nearly the same as those dosed with 3-NPA. The striatal lesions induced by 3-NPA and AC in poisoned rats were in accordance with the bilateral lenticular hypodensity found by CT scanning in patients of mildewed sugarcane poisoning with delayed dystonia. This neuropathological evidence supports previous epidemiological and mycological findings which indicate that 3-NPA is the possible pathogen of acute mildewed sugarcane poisoning.
Insights
Mildewed sugarcane poisoning in children is linked to Arthrinium fungi cultures containing 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NPA). Neuropathological studies in rats confirm 3-NPA and fungal cultures cause striatal necrosis, supporting 3-NPA as the causative agent.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Toxicology
- Neuropathology
Background:
- Arthrinium fungi from mildewed sugarcane caused acute encephalopathy and delayed dystonia in children.
- Arthrinium cultures (AC) were found to contain 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NPA).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neuropathological effects of 3-NPA and AC in a rat model.
- To correlate animal model findings with human cases of sugarcane poisoning.
Main Methods:
- Rats were intoxicated with 3-NPA and AC.
- Neuropathological examination focused on brain lesions.
- A reproducible animal model for striatal damage was established using 3-NPA injections.
Main Results:
- Both 3-NPA and AC induced consistent bilateral striatal necrosis in rats.
- Lesion severity correlated with persistent recumbency, a clinical indicator of brain damage.
- Animal model findings mirrored CT scan results in human patients.
Conclusions:
- 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NPA) is strongly implicated as the pathogen in acute mildewed sugarcane poisoning.
- The study provides neuropathological evidence supporting previous epidemiological and mycological findings.
- The established rat model is valuable for studying striatal damage and sugarcane poisoning.