Species and organ specificity of fumonisin-induced endothelial alterations: Potential role in porcine pulmonary edema

Fumonisins, mycotoxins that commonly contaminate corn, induce cardiovascula r toxicity and pulmonary edema in pigs, leukoencephalomalacia in horses, an d nephropathy in rats, rabbits, and lambs. The mechanisms of these species- specific target organ toxicoses are poorly understood. We have previously r eported perinuclear accumulation of membranous material in pulmonary capill ary endothelial cells of pigs fed fumonisin-containing culture material. We hypothesized that these endothelial accumulations may be important in the pathogenesis of fumonisin-induced pulmonary edema and target organ toxicity in other species. Both target and non-target tissues from fumonisin-expose d pigs, sheep, rabbits, and rats were examined ultrastructurally. Specifica lly, lung, liver, heart and kidney were examined. In agreement with our pre vious work (Gumprecht, L.A., Beasley, V.R., Weigel, R.M., Parker, H.M., Tum bleson, M.E., Bacon, C.W., Meredith, F.I., Haschek, W.M., 1998. Development of fumonisin-induced hepatotoxicity and pulmonary edema in orally dosed sw ine: morphological and biochemical parameters. Tox. Pathol. 26, 777-788), e ndothelial alterations were present in the pulmonary capillary endothelial cells of pigs fed fumonisin-containing culture material, but at doses that did not induce pulmonary edema, as well as in pigs injected intravenously w ith purified fumonisin B-1. These alterations were present only in the pulm onary capillary endothelium of pigs and not in other species. In addition, these endothelial alterations were not present in any other organ of pigs o r other species examined. Thus, these endothelial alterations are induced b y fumonisin B-1, but only in pulmonary capillary endothelium and only in pi gs. Although evidence that these alterations play a role in fumonisin-induc ed pulmonary edema is limited, other endothelial functions may be affected by fumonisin treatment. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights r eserved.