Effects of T-2 toxin gavage on the synthesis and contents of rat-liver macromolecules.

Effects of oral administration of T-2 toxin (0.75 mg/kg body weight/day) for 7, 14 or 21 days on the liver and plasma of young male rats were studied. A significant decrease in body weight and an increase in liver weight were observed in rats treated with T-2 toxin. Liver protein and glycogen levels were significantly lower than in controls after 21 days of treatment, but no significant differences were observed after 7 or 14 days. Levels of RNA in liver were significantly increased after 7, 14 and 21 days of treatment whereas liver DNA levels were significantly lower than in controls at each time interval. Liver microsomal protein was significantly decreased after 14 and 21 days, but microsomal RNA contents were significantly increased at 7 days and significantly decreased at 21 days. The levels of serum protein at 7, 14 and 21 days and of blood glucose at 14 and 21 days were significantly lower in T-2 toxin-treated rats. The levels of incorporation of [14C]leucine and [3H]uridine into liver protein and RNA, and into liver microsomal protein and RNA, were higher than in controls at 7 days, but then decreased. The incorporation of [3H]thymidine into liver DNA was not significantly altered in animals treated with the toxin.