The acute effect of Aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1))) was evaluated on 30 days o
ld C57B1/6 male mice (average weight: 20 g), challenged with a single
intraperitoneal dose of the mycotoxin. Three groups of 30 animals each
were used: the intoxicated group and control groups I and II. Intoxic
ated mice were injected intraperitoneally with AFB(1) (60 mg/kg animal
weight) dissolved in corn oil (0.01 mL/g), while control mice I recei
ved corn oil only by the same route. Lots of 10 animals were sacrifice
d from the intoxicated and control I groups 24, 72 and 168 hours after
challenge. Control mice II remained untreated and were used as standa
rds of normality for the biochemical (hepatic and renal function) and
hematological evaluations. AFB(1) was detected in the livers of intoxi
cated mice 24 hours (146 ng/g), 72 hours (2.30 ng/ gland 168 hours (2.
18 ng/g) after challenge. The most evident histologic lesions observed
168 hours after treatment with AFB(1) were vacuolization of hepatocyt
es and disruption of the architecture of the liver parenchyma. High se
rum levels of alkaline phosphatase were observed in the treated mice 2
4 and 72 hours after injection. The present study showed that the live
r is the target organ for AFB(1) in C57B1/6 mice, causing histopatholo
gic lesions and biochemical changes which are probably related to a sl
ower process of AFB(1) biotransformation and elimination, thus increas
ing the susceptibility of this mouse strain to the mycotoxin.