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Lafarge-Frayssinet C, Chakor K, Lafont P,
Frayssinet C
J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 1990
Jan-Apr;10(1-2):64-8
Transplacental transfer of T2-toxin: pathological
effect.
Institut de Recherches Scientifiques sur le Cancer,
Villejuif, France.
Radioactivity was recovered in fetuses of pregnant
rats following administration of radioactive T2-toxin. The
transplacental effects of T2-toxin were studied by ip
administration or oral feeding of pregnant rats at doses
equivalent to natural contaminations and compatible with the
maintenance of pregnancy. Body weights of the newborn rats from
treated females were similar to the body weights of the control
animals but their thymuses were atrophic. This atrophy was
reversible in one week. Since the measurement of antibody
production for fetuses and newborns is not feasible, the
lymphoblastic response to mitogen of the splenic and thymic
cells of baby rats from treated and control females was tested.
At 4 and 6 days after birth, a good response to PHA for the
thymic cells of the mother treated young rats was observed.
Histological examination of the thymus showed that one day after
birth the cortex was atrophic while the medulla was
proliferative; on day six the situation was reversed. For the
spleen, both B and T cells were impaired and their
responsiveness to PHA and LPS decreased. On days 1 and 6, the
periarteriolar sheats, as well as the follicles, appeared
atrophic. These results show that T2-toxin easily passes the
placental barrier and that T2-toxin injection or feedings at
levels (2 ppm) similar to those in naturally contaminated foods,
produced an impairment of the immune system of the newborn.
PMID: 2231316 |
