TOXICITY AND SPHINGANINE LEVELS ARE CORRELATED IN RATS FED FUMONISIN B-1 (FB1) OR HYDROLYZED FB1

Nixtamalization of Fusarium moniliforme culture material reduced, but did not eliminate, its toxicity to rats. Liver and kidney sphinganine concentration and sphinganine to sphingosine ratio of the animals fed diets containing water extracted (8 ppm fumonisin B-1 (FB1)), nixtamal ized (58 ppm hydrolyzed FB1), or unprocessed culture material (71 ppm FB1) were increased compared to those fed a diet lacking detectable fu monisins. Increases were generally correlated with the severity of hep atic and renal lesions and were highly correlated (P < 0.0001) with bo dy weight effects and serum chemical indications of hepatotoxicity. Th e findings are further evidence that inhibition of the enzyme ceramide synthase may be a key event in fumonisin toxigenesis. (C) 1998 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.