Monitoring genotoxicity in freshwater microcrustaceans: A new application of the micronucleus assay.

We have applied the micronucleus (MN) assay to the measurement of genotoxicity in microcrustaceans. Daphnids (Daphnia magna) and Copepods (Acanthocyclops robustus) were collected in situ and acclimated in the lab for 24h. The MN assay was successful with the Daphnids but not with the Copepods.

In vitro and in vivo induction of chromosome aberrations by alpha- and beta-zearalenols: comparison with zearalenone.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by Fusarium fungi. It contaminates different components of the food chain and can cause serious economic and public health problems. The major metabolites of ZEN in various animal species are alpha- and beta-zearalenol (α-, β-ZOL).

Single and combined genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of two xenobiotics widely used in intensive aquaculture.

Several chemicals are used in aquaculture to prevent or to treat disease outbreaks. These substances are mainly administered by two different routes: by prolonged immersion or by mixing into the diet. In the case of intensive aquaculture, the chemicals that are most frequently applied by immersion are formaldehyde (FA) 37% and oxytetracycline (OTC).

Comparative study of toxic effects of zearalenone and its two major metabolites alpha-zearalenol and beta-zearalenol on cultured human Caco-2 cells.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a fusarotoxin converted predominantly into alpha-zearalenol (alpha-Zol) and beta-zearalenol (beta-Zol) by hepatic hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases. The feeding of naturally contaminated grains with ZEN was associated with hyperestrogenic and adverse effects on humans and animals. There is a lack of information on the attribution of the toxic effects of these toxins.

Isothiocyanate from the Tunisian radish (Raphanus sativus) prevents genotoxicity of Zearalenone in vivo and in vitro.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a naturally occurring contaminant of animal feed that has been implicated in several mycotoxicoses in farm livestock. Recently some information has become available indicating that ZEN caused cancer or at least increased its prevalence, although the mechanism of action is unknown. Many papers mentioned that exposure to ZEN results in genotoxicity and DNA damage.

Toxicities induced in cultured cells exposed to zearalenone: apoptosis or mutagenesis?

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a fusarotoxin produced mainly by Fusarium graminearum in temperate and warm countries. ZEN has several adverse effects on humans and animals. It has a strong estrogenic activity associated with hyperestrogenism and leads to several physiological alterations in the reproductive tract.

Preventive role of aluminosilicate clay against induction of micronuclei and chromosome aberrations in bone-marrow cells of Balb/c mice treated with Zearalenone.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a potent estrogenic metabolite produced by some Fusarium species. No treatment has been successfully employed to remove ZEN contamination in foods. This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) to protect Balb/c mice against cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by ZEN.

Tunisian radish extract (Raphanus sativus) enhances the antioxidant status and protects against oxidative stress induced by zearalenone in Balb/c mice.

Radish (Raphanus sativus) is a food plant known worldwide. From antiquity it has been used in folk medicine as a natural drug against many toxicants. Zearalenone (zen) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin present in corn and food mixture for farm animals and it is hepatotoxic, hematotoxic, immunotoxic, nephrotoxic and genotoxic.

Preventive role of phyllosilicate clay on the Immunological and Biochemical toxicity of zearalenone in Balb/c mice.

Zearalenone (ZEN), a mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium spp., is most commonly found as a contaminant in stored grain and has chronic estrogenic effects on mammals. ZEN and its metabolites have anabolic activities and induced severe stress on liver, kidney and immune system.

The protective effect of hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate against haematological, biochemical and pathological changes induced by Zearalenone in mice.

Hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS), an anticaking agent for mixed feed, was added alone or simultaneously with a toxic Zearalenone (ZEN) dose to balb/c mice and was evaluated for its ability to restore damages induced by ZEN. The latter is a mycotoxin produced by fusarium genera; it is mainly known to induce several toxic effects such as hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity and nephrotoxicity on animals and humans. The experimental approach consisted of eight treatments of six mice each by 400 mg/kg bw or 5 g/kg bw of HSCAS.

Zearalenone induces chromosome aberrations in mouse bone marrow: preventive effect of 17beta-estradiol, progesterone and Vitamin E.

The cytogenetic effect of zearalenone (ZEN), a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin, was evaluated in vivo, in mouse bone marrow cells, by assessing the percentage of cells bearing different chromosome aberrations. The studies included different conditions for animal treatment, as follows: (1) single intraperitoneal (ip) injection, (2) repeated ip injections, (3) pre-treatment for 24h with Vitamin E (Vit E), and (4) pre-treatment for 4h with 17beta-estradiol (17beta-Est) or progesterone (Prog). ZEN induced different types of chromosome aberrations, which was concentration-dependent (2-20 mg/kg bw).

Cytotoxicity, inhibition of DNA and protein syntheses and oxidative damage in cultured cells exposed to zearalenone.

Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites of various fungi commonly found in feed and foodstuff and can cause very serious health problems in animals as well as in humans. Zearalenone (ZEN), a mycotoxin produced by various Fusarium species has several adverse effects. Indeed, ZEN has strong estrogenic activity associated with hyperestrogenism and several physiological alterations of the reproductive tract.

DNA fragmentation, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest induced by zearalenone in cultured DOK, Vero and Caco-2 cells: prevention by Vitamin E.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal oestrogenic mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium species growing on cereals. ZEN and its metabolites bind to human oestrogen receptors and hence display oestrogenic and anabolic properties. Several lines of investigation suggest that ZEN may be genotoxic in vivo.

Induction of micronuclei by Zearalenone in Vero monkey kidney cells and in bone marrow cells of mice: protective effect of Vitamin E.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin mainly produced by Fusarium graminaerum, found as a world-wide contaminant mainly of corn and wheat. Previous studies have demonstrated that among several other effects on animals and humans, ZEN also displays hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. ZEN is mainly known as a hormonal disrupter due to its estrogenic activities and consequent toxicity for reproduction.