REACTION WITH FRUCTOSE DETOXIFIES FUMONISIN B-1 WHILE STIMULATING LIVER-ASSOCIATED NATURAL-KILLER-CELL ACTIVITY IN RATS

Fumonisin B-1 (FB1) was reacted with fructose in an attempt to detoxif y this mycotoxin. Fischer 344/N rats were initiated with diethylnitros amine (15 mg/kg body weight) and then fed 69.3 mu mol FB1/kg diet or 6 9.3 mu mol FB1 reacted with fructose (FB1-fructose)/kg diet for 4 week s. In comparison with the rats fed basal diet or FB1-fructose, the FB1 -fed rats had significantly increased plasma cholesterol (P < 0.01), p lasma alanine aminotransferase activity (P < 0.05), and endogenous hep atic prostaglandin production (P < 0.05). Placental glutathione S-tran sferase-positive and gamma-glutamyl transferase-positive altered hepat ic foci occurred only in the FB1-fed rats. Liver-associated natural ki ller (NK) cell activity was significantly decreased in the FB1-fed rat s and increased in the group fed FB1-fructose, as compared with the ba sal group (P < 0.03). Therefore, modifying FB1 with fructose seems to prevent FB1-induced hepatotoxicity and promotion of hepatocarcinogenes is while stimulating liver-associated NK cell activity in rats.