Comparison of the trichothecenes deoxynivalenol and T-2 toxin for their effects on brain biogenic monoamines in the rat.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (180 g) were orally dosed with deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2 toxin at 2.5 mg kg-1 body weight. Brains were collected 24 h postdosing, dissected into five brain regions and analyzed for biogenic monoamines by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. DON and T-2 toxin treatment resulted in significantly elevated concentrations of the indoleamines, serotonin (HT) and 5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid (HIAA) in all brain regions examined, whereas norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) regional concentrations were not significantly altered. These results indicate that DON and T-2 toxin influence brain biogenic monamine metabolism, and suggest that the central nervous system (CNS) actions of these trichothecenes are similar.