Katarina Zbynovska

Environment contamination by mycotoxins and their occurrence in food and feed: Physiological aspects and economical approach

ABSTRACT The contamination of food and feed by mycotoxins as toxic metabolites of fungi is a risk not only for consumers resulting in various embarrassment regarding health status and well-being, but also for producers, companies and export market on the ground of economic losses and ruined stability of economic trade. As it is given in historical evidence, the contamination of food by mycotoxins is a topic as old as a history of mankind, finding some evidence even in the ancient books and records. Nowadays, the mycotoxins are used in modern biotechnological laboratories and are considered an agent for targeting the specific cells (e.g., defected cells to eliminate them). However, this promising procedure is only the beginning. More concern is focused on mycotoxins as abiotic hazard agents. The dealing with them, systematic monitoring, and development of techniques for their elimination from agricultural commodities are worldwide issues concerning all countries. They can be found alone or in co-occurrence with other mycotoxins. Thus, this review aims to provide widened information regarding mycotoxins contamination in environment with the consequences on health of animals and humans. The inevitability for more data that correctly determine the risk points linked to mycotoxins occurrence and their specific reactions in the environment is demonstrated. This review includes various symptoms in animals and humans that result from mycotoxin exposure. For better understanding of mycotoxins impact on animals, the sensitivities of various animal species to various mycotoxins are listed. Strategies for elimination and preventing the risks of mycotoxins contamination as well as economical approach are discussed. To complete the topic, some data from past as historical evidences are presented.

Changes in antioxidant status of porcine ovarian granulosa cells after quercetin and T-2 toxin treatment.

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and total antioxidant status (TAS) in porcine ovarian granulosa cells after quercetin and T-2 toxin exposure in vitro. Porcine ovarian granulosa cells were incubated with quercetin and T-2 toxin separately or in mutual combination at the doses of 1ng/mL, 10 ng/mL, 100 ng/mL, and the control group without any additions for 24 h. In this study T-2 toxin developed stress reaction in porcine ovarian granulosa cells and increased generation of ROS. Quercetin had no effect in elimination of ROS generation induced by T-2 toxin, but was effective in maintaining and increasing of TAS, activities of SOD and GPx in porcine granulosa cells in vitro. These results contribute towards the understanding of cellular stress and its response.

The evaluation of endocrine regulators after intramuscular and oral application of cyanogenic glycoside amygdalin in rabbits

Abstract The present in vivo study was designed to reveal whether amygdalin is able to cause changes in the endocrine profile and thus alter the key reproductive and physiological functions, using rabbits as a biological model. 40 adult female rabbits were randomly divided into five groups: the control group without any amygdalin administration, two experimental groups received a daily intramuscular injection of amygdalin at dose 0.6 and 3.0 mg kg-1 b.w. and other two groups were fed by crushed apricot seeds at dose 60 and 300 mg kg-1 b.w., mixed with commercial feed over the period of 28 days. The body weight of each experimental animal was recorded weekly during the whole study. Plasma levels of steroid (progesterone, 17β-estradiol, testosterone), thyroid (triiodothyronine, thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone), as well as anterior pituitary (prolactin, luteinizing hormone) hormones were assessed by ELISA. Intramuscular application of amygdalin did not affect (P ≥ 0.05) the plasma levels of none of the endocrine regulators selected. Oral form of amygdalin did not induce significant changes in the plasma levels of examined hormones either. Similarly, no clinically noticeable changes in the average body weight of experimental animals were observed. Our findings indicate that intramuscular and oral application of amygdalin did not significantly affect the plasma levels of studied endocrine regulators in experimental rabbits. In this in vivo study, no obvious beneficial or negative effects of amygdalin on the physiological functions of female rabbits were demonstrated. Short-term intake of amygdalin at the recommended doses does not represent risk for animal health.

Antioxidant status of rabbits after treatment with epicatechin and patulin

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess antioxidant status by measuring of antioxidant parameters (SOD – superoxide dismutase, GPx – glutatione peroxidase, CAT – catalase, Trolox, TAC – total antioxidant capacity, bilirubin, albumin) and parameters associated with oxidative stress (MDA – malondialdehyde, MDA Adduct – malondialdehyde adduct, H2O2 – hydrogen peroxide) in rabbit blood after five weeks exposure to epicatechin alone or in combination with patulin in vivo. We investigated the protective role of epicatechin against possible negative effect of patulin in rabbits. Adult female rabbits (n = 32) were used in the experiment. Animals were divided into eight groups with four rabbits in each group. In the experiment there were two control groups: one without addition of patulin and epicatechin and one with addition of patulin (10 μg kg−1). Rabbits in the experimental groups received three times a week intramuscular injection of low dose (10 μg kg−1), medium dose (100 μg kg−1) or high dose (1000 μg kg−1) of epicatechin alone or in combination with low dose (10 μg kg−1) of patulin. Patulin alone in low dose significantly (P < 0.05) affected total antioxidant status in comparison with the experimental groups with the highest dose of epicatechin alone (1000 μg kg−1) and in combination with patulin. SOD was negatively affected by patulin. Enzymatic activity of this enzyme was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the experimental group with patulin in comparison with the experimental group receiving the lowest concentration of epicatechin (10 μg kg−1). Patulin can induce oxidative stress in rabbits in low dose and catechin could have possible protective effect. Our results showed that patulin negatively affected TAC, and SOD in rabbit blood. Further research needs to be focused on the generation of data dealing with antioxidant effects.

Effectiveness of non-antibiotic stimulators in Japanese quail diet: Gender comparison and economical annex

Abstract Economical as well as medicinal and nutritional benefits of Japanese quails are important. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary inclusion of probiotics and humic acids on some antioxidant, carcass and egg production parameters of Japanese quails. As Japanese quails are an interesting animal model attracting attention in the last years, a partial aim of this study is also a brief economical annex to the topic. A total of 60 birds (30 males and 30 females, age of 35 days) were involved in the experiment. Animals were fed by standard basal diet and divided to 6 experimental groups as follows: two groups (10 females and 10 males) received addition of probiotics preparation in a single dose of 1 g kg-1 of feed mixture, two groups (10 females and 10 males) received a preparation of humic acids in a single dose of 3 g kg-1 of feed mixture. The groups (10 females and 10 males) fed on basal diet without any additive served as the control group. After 210 days the animals were euthanized and blood samples, carcass organs and abdominal fat were collected. Antioxidant/oxidant parameters (activity of superoxide dismutase SOD, glutathione peroxidase GPx, total antioxidant status TAS, content of bilirubin and reactive oxygen species ROS) from blood samples were measured. The production of eggs was recorded during the experiment. Probiotic and humic acids treatments resulted in significant increase of TAS in females in contrast to males. Content of bilirubin was significantly lower in females fed with addition of humic acids in comparison to the male group. In both treatments (probiotics and humic acids) significantly lower amount of abdominal fat in females in comparison to the controls were recorded. The other investigated parameters of Japanese quails were not influenced by the treatments. The effect of probiotics and humic acids is probably dose dependent and the assessment of an accurate dose of substantives used in poultry feeding plays a crucial role.

In Vitro Assessment of Gentamicin Cytotoxicity on the Selected Mammalian Cell Line (Vero cells)

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity of different concentrations (500-7500 μg/mL) of gentamicin - GENT (aminoglycoside antibiotic) on the selected mammalian cell line (Vero - cell line from African green monkey kidney). Analysis of the cell morphological changes was microscopically evaluated (magnification × 400). Quantification of Ca, Mg and total proteins was performed using spectrophotometry on device Rx Monza (Randox). Quantification of Na, K and Cl was performed on the automatic analyzer EasyLyte. The cell viability was assessed using the metabolic mitochondrial MTT test. Vero cells were able to survive at concentrations of 500 (89.21 %), 1000 (79.54 %) and 2000 μg/mL (34.59 %). We observed statistically significant decrease of vital cell content at concentrations of 2000, 4500, 7500 μg/mL against control group. Vero cell line slightly reacted to the presence of GENT but total proteins and mineral parameters were not significantly affected. Vero cells were highly sensitive to GENT with a significant decrease of viability at concentrations of 2000 and 4500 μg/mL (P < 0.001). Our data reveal that GENT has a significant cytotoxic and adverse effect on the cell viability.