Effect of T-2 toxin administration to rats on lipid metabolism in liver.

The effect of oral dosing of rats with 1.5 mg T-2 toxin/kg body weight daily for 4 days on metabolism of liver lipids was studied. T-2 toxin significantly elevated total liver lipids, triglycerides, free cholesterol, total phospholipids and phosphatidyl choline, whereas the level of sphingomyelin + lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine was reduced. No change in the esterified cholesterol and phosphatidyl ethanolamine contents was observed. Incorporation of [1-14C]acetate into liver lipids, esterified cholesterol, triglycerides, free cholesterol and phosphatidyl ethanolamine was reduced in T-2 toxin-treated animals, implying reduced lipogenesis. Increased lipids in liver in T-2 toxin-treated rats are possibly due to an impaired secretion of lipids from the liver.