title: Lack of embryotoxicity of fumonisin B1 in New Zealand white rabbits.
abstract: Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is one of a number of mycotoxins produced by fungi, especially Fusarium sp. As a contaminant of many maize-derived products, this toxin is associated with a variety of animal diseases, including esophageal cancer and possibly neural tube defects in humans. We have investigated the embryotoxic potential of this compound in New Zealand White rabbits. Animals were dosed by gavage daily on GD 3-19 with purified FB1 at 0.10, 0.50, or 1.00 mg/kg/day. Maternal lethality occurred at the 0.50 and 1.00 mg/kg/day doses. When examined on GD 29, there were no differences in maternal body weight, maternal weight gain, maternal organ weights, number of nonlive implantations, and number of malformations. Fetal weight was decreased at 0.50 and 1.00 mg/kg/day (13 and 16%, respectively); this was true for male and female pups. Fetal liver and kidney weights were also decreased at these doses. Analysis of embryonic sphinganine to sphingosine ratios demonstrated no differences between control and treated embryos on GD 20, although these ratios were increased in maternal urine, serum, and kidney when compared to control animals. These data suggest that FB1 did not cross the placenta and that the observed decreased fetal weight was probably the result of maternal toxicity, rather than any developmental toxicity produced by FB1.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Jefferson, Arkansas 72079-9502, USA.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: LaBorde
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Shackelford
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D037341:Fumonisins; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000378:metabolism; D051049:Sphingosine N-Acyltransferase; D013723:Teratogens / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D037341:Fumonisins; D013107:Sphingolipids; D013723:Teratogens; C056933:fumonisin B1; D000217:Acyltransferases; D051049:Sphingosine N-Acyltransferase