Effects of aflatoxin on lymphoid cells of weanling rat

✍ Scribed by Raisuddin; K. P. Singh; S. I. A. Zaidi; A. K. Saxena; P. K. Ray

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1990
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 598 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0260-437X
• DOI: 10.1002/jat.2550100404

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Aflatoxin (AF), the hepatocarcinogenic food contaminant produced by the Aspergillus flavus group of fungi, is known to interact with various vital processes, including the immune function. Effects of long‐term treatment of three dose levels of aflatoxin B~1~ (AFB~1~) on lymphoid cells of weanling rats were studied. AFB~1~ treatment caused a reduction in body weight gain, significantly (P<0.01) at the 700 μg level. There was also a significant decrease in the weight of spleen and thymus in AFB~1~‐treated animals in comparison to control. Similarly, AFB~1~ depleted cell populations of thymus and bone marrow and WBC and RBC counts. There was a marked reduction in the population and phagocytic capacity of macrophages due to AFB~1~ administration‐at dose levels of 350 and 700 μg kg^−1^ body weight. Macromolecular synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein in macrophages was affected, as there was significant inhibition in the incorporation of [^3^H]‐thymidine, [^3^H]‐uridine and [^3^H]‐leucine. The hampered functioning of macrophages may be due to the cytotoxic action of AFB~1~.