title: Aflatoxin B1 reduces non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses and increases protein kinase C activation in the cerebral cortex of young rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most widespread mycotoxin, and it is a feed contaminant and is highly toxic, causing carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic effects. Many researches clarified the peripheral effects of the exposition to AFB1; however, there are few studies explaining their effects on central nervous system. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects caused by acute oral administration of AFB1 on behavioral tests and selected biochemical parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young male Wistar rats received a single administration of AFB1 (250 µg/kg/i.g.) and 48 hours thereafter they were subjected to behavioral analysis. After the tests, biochemical parameters were measured in the cerebral cortex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acute treatment with AFB1 caused neurotoxic effects, evidenced by a significant reduction in the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses, ascorbic acid, and non-protein sulfhydryl groups. In addition, AFB1 increased protein kinase C (PKC) activation, evidenced by an increase in phosphorylation of Ser957of PKCα.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this acute protocol, a single oral administration of AFB1 was able to cause changes in important neurochemical parameters, without concomitant, detectable behavioral alterations. These results reinforce that monitoring mycotoxin levels in food is essential to guarantee food security.
authors.affiliation: a Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia dos Alimentos , Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brasil.
authors.forename: Naiéli Schiefelbein
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7350-7182
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Souto
authors.affiliation: b Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia , Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8511-2065
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Claudia Monteiro Braga
authors.affiliation: b Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia , Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brasil.
authors.forename: Mayara
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9977-4406
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lutchemeyer de Freitas
authors.affiliation: b Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia , Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brasil.|c Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica , Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Campus UFSM, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brasil.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rechia Fighera
authors.affiliation: b Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia , Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brasil.|c Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica , Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Campus UFSM, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luiz Fernando Freire
authors.initials: LFF
authors.lastname: Royes
authors.affiliation: b Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia , Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brasil.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5381-1208
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider Oliveira
authors.affiliation: a Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia dos Alimentos , Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brasil.|b Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia , Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ana Flávia
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Furian
mesh_terms: D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001007:Anxiety; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003863:Depression; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005518:Food Preferences; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D016604:Aflatoxin B1; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Aflatoxins; Ascorbic acid; Cerebral cortex; Mycotoxin; Non-protein thiols; Protein kinase C