Plasma concentration of iditol dehydrogenase (sorbitol dehydrogenase) in ponies treated with aflatoxin B1.

Twelve clinically normal Shetland ponies were allocated to one of four treatment groups. Aflatoxin B1 was administered at the dosage level of 2 mg/kg of body weight to group A, 1 mg/kg to group B, and 0.5 mg/kg to group C; a placebo was given to group D (controls). Plasma samples were assayed at 4-hour intervals for iditol dehydrogenase (ID) (sorbitol dehydrogenase) concentrations as an indicator of hepatic damage. One of the ponies in group A died 68 hours after dosing; another pony in group A died 76 hours after dosing. All other animals survived the experiment. The means of peak ID values were as follows: group A, 1514.0 IU/l (P < 0.05); group B, 192.6 IU/L (P < 0.05); group C, 8.5 IU/L (P < 0.05); and group D (controls), 2.7 IU/L. A square root transformation analysis of the postdosing response of ID values in relation to time demonstrated that the mean of group A became significantly higher (P < 0.05) than did the mean of the control group at 5 to 6 hours. The mean of group B at 12 to 16 hours and the mean of group C at 20 to 24 hours also were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than was the mean of the control group.