title: Alpha-Amanitin Poisoning, Nephrotoxicity and Oxidative Stress: An Experimental Mouse Model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alpha-amanitin (α-AMA) plays a major role in Amanita phalloides poisoning, showing toxic effects on multi-organs, particularly on the liver and kidneys. Studies have shown a relationship between α-AMA-related injuries and reactive oxygen species.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate whether there is renal injury and its relationship with oxidative stress after intraperitoneal injection of α-AMA in mice experimental poisoning models.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 37 male BALB/c laboratory mice treated with α-AMA, according to the study groups: control group (n = 7); low dose (0.2 mg/kg) (n = 10); moderate dose (0.6 mg/kg) (n = 10), and high dose (1 mg/kg) (n = 10). The sample size was detected according to the ethical committee's decision as well as similar studies in the literature. After a 48-hour follow-up period, all the subjects were sacrificed for pathological and biochemical assays. The study was held in Turkey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  α-AMA poisoning in mice results in inflammatory changes and necrosis in renal structures. There were statistically significant differences between the study groups regarding measured levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and malonyl dialdehyde in renal homogenates of mice (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.001, respectively). The TOS and TAS measurements helped to eliminate cumbersome analysis of diverse oxidant and antioxidant molecules. The TOS levels in renal homogenate of mice were significantly higher in all the intoxication groups compared to the control group (5.73, 7.02, 7.77, and 9.65 mmol trolox eq/g protein and P = 0.002, P = 0.001, and P = 0.001, respectively). The TAS levels in moderate and high-dose groups were significantly lower than all the other groups treated with α-AMA (0.130, 0.152, 0.065, and 0.087 mmol trolox eq/g protein and P = 0.031, P = 0.001, and P = 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicated that α-AMA poisoning in mice led to inflammatory changes and necrosis in renal structures. Biochemical analysis showed a shift in the oxidative/anti-oxidative balance towards the oxidative status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Meram Medicine School, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ergin
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Meram Medicine School, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zerrin Defne
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Dundar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Meram Medicine School, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kilinc
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Meram Medicine School, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tamer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Colak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Meram Medicine School, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pembe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oltulu
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Meram Medicine School, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdullah Sadik
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Girisgin
keywords: Alpha-Amanitin; Mycotoxins; Oxidative Stress