The effect of in vivo exposure to roridin E alone and in combination w
ith linoleic acid on rats was studied. Male rats treated with a sublet
hal dose (2 mg/kg body weight) of the trichothecene roridin E showed a
significant increase in glucose-6-phosphatase of liver Whereas, rats
treated with roridin E plus linoleic acid (300 mu mol/kg body weight)
showed a significant decrease in the blood glucose and glutathione lev
els. The combined effect also resulted in a significant decrease in th
e levels of superoxide dismutase and glucose-6-phosphatase in the kidn
ey together with a significant increase in the lipid peroxidation (TEA
RS) in the liver. In conclusion, treatment of rats by sublethal dose o
f roridin E alone did not caused any significant effect. However, co-a
dministration of linoleic acid with roridin E resulted in increasing i
ts toxicity.