title: Biochemical and morphological effects of fumonisin B(1) on primary cultures of rat cerebrum.
abstract: Chronic dietary consumption of the mycotoxin fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) is associated with leukoencephalomalacia and neuronal degeneration, but identification of the cellular mechanisms underlying this neurotoxicity is difficult due to concurrent adverse systemic changes. For this reason, the present investigation used an in vitro approach to assess the short-term consequences of direct FB(1) (0. 5-75 microM) exposure on astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in primary cultures of rat cerebrum. Beginning at 5 days in vitro, the cultures were exposed to FB(1) at five concentrations (0.5-75 microM), and the cultures were evaluated at 10 and 15 days in vitro. The levels of the sphingolipid-associated constituents sphingosine and sphinganine were determined with a high-performance liquid chromatography. Relative to untreated cultures, exposure to FB(1) diminished the levels of sphingosine at 15 days in vitro, whereas FB(1)-exposed cultures showed significantly increased sphinganine levels and sphinganine/sphingosine ratios. In addition to these changes in sphingolipid constituents, FB(1)-exposed (0.5-75 microM) cultures exhibited a two-fold increase in the number of process-bearing cells by 15 days in vitro. Also, the activity of 2', 3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase, an enzyme associated with myelin and oligodendrocytes, was increased in FB(1)-treated cultures. This study suggests that short-term exposure to FB(1) may modify the proliferation or differentiation of glial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. oskwon@kistmail.kist.re.kr
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Slikker
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D063309:2',3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase; D015087:2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D037341:Fumonisins; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D011506:Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D037341:Fumonisins; D009183:Mycotoxins; D011506:Proteins; C056933:fumonisin B1; D004247:DNA; D015087:2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D063309:2',3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase; C571339:Cnp protein, rat; D013110:Sphingosine; C005682:safingol