Genotoxic activity of the Fumonisin B1 mycotoxin in cultures of bovine lymphocytes

• Main Authors: Alberto Tamburini, Franca Sciaraffia, Luciano Molteni, Luca Malagutti, Annamaria De Giovanni, Lisa De Lorenzi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2010-01-01
• Series: Italian Journal of Animal Science
• Subjects: Bovine lymphocytes, Genotoxicity, Mitotic index, Micronucleus test, Sister chromatid exchange.
• Online Access: http://www.aspajournal.it/index.php/ijas/article/view/262
• ISSN: 1594-4077; 1828-051X

<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">The fumonisins, produced by fungi that infest foodstuffs, in particular corn, are responsible for a series of illnesses and<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">toxicosis in various species of animals, including humans. There is still not detailed information about the genotoxic and<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">mutagenic activity of Fumonisin B1 (FB1), but it is clear that it interferes with growth control, differentiation and cellu-<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">lar apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to assess the genotoxic potential of Fumonisin B1 using <em>in vitro</em>cultures of<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">bovine lymphocytes, through the calculation of the &lsquo;mitotic index&rsquo; (MI), the frequency of &lsquo;sister chromatid exchange&rsquo;<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">(SCE) and the &lsquo;micronucleus test&rsquo; (MN). The bovine lymphocytes were exposed to different concentrations of FB1 (25,<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">50 and 100 <span style="font: 8.0px Symbol;">&micro;</span>M) in order to find out which amount is sufficient to cause a reduction in the mitotic potential of the cells,<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">the onset of MN and a higher frequency of SCE. The results obtained show a considerable reduction in the &lsquo;mitotic index&rsquo;<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">with a FB1 concentration of 50 <span style="font: 8.0px Symbol;">&micro;</span>M, an increase in the frequency of MN with a concentration of 50 <span style="font: 8.0px Symbol;">&micro;</span>M and a significant<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">increase in the SCE with a concentration of 100 <span style="font: 8.0px Symbol;">&micro;</span>M.<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">In the light of the information we have obtained, compared with that of other Authors, we feel that the genotoxic poten-<span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 8.0px Verdana;">tial of FB1 has been underestimated until now and should, therefore, be reconsidered.</p>