Hyperkalaemia during aflatoxicosis

We have evaluated the effect of aflatoxin on sodium and potassium concentra tions in the serum and various organs of rabbits. Consumption of 7.5 mg/kg aflatoxin-contaminated feed by rabbits for 90 days caused sodium and potass ium concentrations in the serum to rise, though initially (15 days) the sod ium concentration declined, as compared with the controls. Significant rise s in serum sodium and potassium concentrations were recorded only from 60 d ays onwards. The intracellular sodium content in the liver, kidney and test is increased significantly in aflatoxin-treated rabbits as compared with co ntrols. There were non-significant reductions in sodium in the heart, bone marrow and bone, and significant reductions in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Except for bone and bone marrow, which showed non-significant reduc tions, the intracellular potassium content declined significantly in the li ver, kidney, heart, skeletal muscle, testis and adipose tissue of the aflat oxin-fed rabbits as compared with controls. These findings suggest a profou nd effect of aflatoxin on membrane permeability, causing potassium and sodi um concentrations to rise in the serum. Med Sci Res 26:733-735 (C) 1998 Lip pincott Williams & Wilkins.