Ergot Alkaloids at Doses Close to EU Regulatory Limits Induce Alterations of the Liver and Intestine.

ABSTRACT: An increase in the occurrence of ergot alkaloids (EAs) contamination has been observed in North America and Europe in recent years. These toxins are well known for their effects on the circulatory and nervous systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of EAs on the liver and on the intestine using the pig both as a target species and as a non-rodent model for human. Three groups of 24 weaned piglets were exposed for 28 days to control feed or feed contaminated with 1.2 or 2.5 g of sclerotia/kg, i.e., at doses close to EU regulatory limits. Contaminated diets significantly reduced feed intake and consequently growth performance. In the liver, alteration of the tissue, including development of inflammatory infiltrates, vacuolization, apoptosis and necrosis of hepatocytes as

SUBMITTER: Maruo VM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5983239 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature