The fumonisin (FB) mycotoxins induce liver injury in all species but induce fatal pulmonary edema (PE) only in pigs. They inhibit ceramide synthase in the sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway. To study the pathogenesis of PE, we examined the early events in the development of FB-induced PE and hepatotoxicity in pigs. Pigs were fed FB-contaminated culture material at 20 mg fumonsin B1 (FB1)/kg body weight/day. Groups of 4 pigs were to be euthanatized on 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 days after initial exposure to FB or when PE developed. Pigs developed PE beginning on day 3; none survived beyond day 4. Progressive elevations in hepatic parameters, including serum enzymes, bile acids, total bilirubin, and histologic changes, began on day 2. Early histologic changes in the lung (day 2) consisted of perivascular edema followed by interlobular and peribronchial edema. Ultrastructurally, alveolar endothelial cells contained unique accumulations of membranous material in the cytocavitary network beginning on day 2. Marked elevations in sphinganine, sphingosine, and their ratio began on day 1 for all tissues whether affected morphologically (lung, liver) or not (kidney, pancreas). The membranous material in endothelial cells may be accumulations of sphingoid bases with damage to the cytocavitary network. Thus, FB induces early elevations in sphingolipids and hepatic injury, followed by alveolar endothelial damage, which may be the critical event in the pathogenesis of PE in pigs.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of the offspring of three serial pregnancies during voluntary alcohol consumption in Sinclair (S-1) miniature swine.

The offspring of serial breedings of voluntary alcohol consuming Sinclair (S-1) miniature swine have been evaluated over the past three years. The first and second litters of 12 dams and the third litter of 6 dams were examined. All study animals had been consuming alcohol for at least 18 months prior to the first breeding. Alcohol consumption was continuous throughout the ninth study. Twelve non-alcohol-consuming sows were used as controls. The results of the study revealed a progressive decrease in mean litter size from controls of 6.66 in the control litters to 1.8 piglets per litter in the third litter born to alcohol-consuming dams. Perinatal deaths showed a progressive increase from 10% in the controls to 36.4% in the L3 litter. The birth weight showed a decline from a mean of 719 +/- 186 g in the control group to 467 +/- 122 g in the L3 litter. Abortions were not seen in control, first litter or second litter; however, there were 3 aborted fetuses in the third litter. Observation revealed no additional anomalies beyond the previous reports of anomalies seen in litters of alcohol-consuming S-1 miniature swine dams.

Alcohol Drinking↗