PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ANTIOXIDANTS AGAINST FREE RADICAL-MEDIATED LIPID-PEROXIDATION INDUCED BY DON OR T-2 TOXIN

An experiment was conducted on rats to investigate the capacity of ant ioxidants to protect against acute toxicity caused by DON or T-2 toxin . Male rats were fed two different feeds. One group received a feed de ficient in vitamins C and E and selenium, whereas the other group was fed with a feed enriched in antioxidants. After two weeks, selected gr oups of rats were administered orally a single dose of DON or T-2 toxi n. After the treatment with mycotoxins, all rats were decapitated. The livers were analyzed for TBARS values, hepatic GSH content and for th e activities of CyP-450, CAT, SOD and GSH-TR. Increases in lipid perox ides of 21 % and 268 % were observed in those rats which did not recei ve the supplement of antioxidants and which were administered DON or T -2 toxin, respectively. There was no significant increase in the TBARS values in the groups receiving DON with selenium and vitamins, but in creases of 57 % and 79 % were recorded in the groups administered T-2 toxin and antioxidants. Furthermore, in the groups fed the deficient f eed and administered DON or T-2 toxin, the lipid peroxidation increase d by 33 % and 307 %, respectively. No mortality, and a lower number of intoxicated animals were observed in rats fed a diet supplemented wit h antioxidants. Significant decreases of GSH, CAT, SOD, CyP-450 and GS H-TR were recorded in treated rats receiving the deficient feed. The r esults of this study demonstrate that trichothecenes stimulate lipid p eroxidation with consequent decrease of GSH content, but that the diet ary use of selenium, alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid provides prote ction against acute toxicosis caused by DON or T-2 toxin.