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Title: Comparing the reproductive toxicity of fumonisin B1 (FB1) and hydrolyzed fumonisin B1 (HFB1): only FB1 induced neural tube defects in LM/Bc Mice

Author
item Voss, Kenneth
item BURNS, T - TOX PROG/UGEORGIA,ATHENS
item Snook, Maurice
item Riley, Ronald
item GELINEAU-VAN WAES, J - MED CEN/UNEBRASKA,OMAHA

Submitted to: Meeting, Center for Food Safety, University of Georgia
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/20/2009
Publication Date: 3/3/2009
Citation: Voss, K.A., Burns, T.D., Snook, M.E., Riley, R.T., Gelineau-Van Waes, J.B. 2009. Comparing the reproductive toxicity of fumonisin B1 (FB1) and hydrolyzed fumonisin B1 (HFB1): only FB1 induced neural tube defects in LM/Bc Mice. Proceedings of the 20009 Annual Meeting of the Center for Food Safety, University of Georgia. March 3 - 4, 2009. Athens, Georgia.

Interpretive Summary: Abstract - no summary required.

Technical Abstract: Fumonisins are mycotoxins that are found in corn-based foods. They are hydrolyzed under alkaline conditions such as those of the cooking process known as nixtamalization. Hydrolyzed fumonisins have been found in corn tortillas and evidence suggests that the consumption of tortillas containing fumonisins was a contributing factor in an enigmatic cluster of neural tube defects in southern Texas during 1990-91. Fumonisin B1 (FB1), the most common fumonisin, causes neural tube defects when given to mice at a critical time period during pregnancy. The ability of hydrolyzed fumonisin B1 (HFB1) to cause neural tube defects was tested by administering it by intraperitoneal injection (ip) at doses of up to 20 mg/kg (<49 µmol/kg) body weight to pregnant mice of the LM/Bc strain, a sensitive in vivo model for FB1-induced neural tube defects. Another group was given 10 mg/kg body weight (=14 µmol/kg ip) FB1 and a control group was treated with vehicle only. NTDs were found in all litters from FB1-exposed dams. Decreased numbers of fetuses/litter, decreased litter weights and increased fetal deaths were also found in the FB1-treated group. In contrast, no neural tube defects or other indications of fetal toxicity were found in the control group or any group treated with HFB1. Because the highest HFB1 dose was about 3.5 fold greater (µmol/kg basis) than the FB1 dose, these results indicate that HFB1 is a significantly less potent reproductive toxin in the LM/Bc mouse model. Additional studies are needed to determine if a lowest observed adverse effect level for HFB1-induced neural tube defects can be established.