Fusarenon-X-induced apoptosis in the liver, kidney, and spleen of mice.

Fusarenon-X is a non-macrocyclic type B trichothecene mycotoxin. It occurs naturally in agricultural commodities, such as wheat and barley. We investigated fusarenon-X-induced apoptosis in the liver, kidney, and spleen of male and female mice after a single exposure. Thus, mice were orally administered fusarenon-X (4 mg/kg body weight) and were assessed at 0, 3, 9, 18, 24, and 48 hours after treatment. Apoptosis in the liver, kidney, and spleen was determined using hematoxylin and eosin staining, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling method, immunohistochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and electron microscopy. Fusarenon-X-induced apoptosis at 9 hours after treatment, particularly hepatocytes around the central lobular zone of the liver, in proximal tubular cells of the kidney, and in hematopoietic cells in the red pulp area of the spleen in both male and female mice. The results of this study should be very useful with regard to the toxicity of fusarenon-X in both humans and domestic animals, which has been attributed to the intake of food contaminated with mycotoxins, especially fusarenon-X.