Short-term tests and mycotoxins.

Abstract

Naturally-occurring fungal metabolites, such as aflatoxins and sterigmatocystin, are specific examples of toxic and hepatocarcinogenic environmental contaminants which are active in Fish, Birds, Mammals and, probably, Man. The biological potency of these substances has led to a search for other carcinogenic fungus-derived products. As screening techniques for selecting compounds to be tested for their genetic and carcinogenic potency in animals, various short-term tests can be currently utilized. The use of mutagenesis, DNA repair, chromosomal aberrations, cell transformation, cytological alterations and reaction with nucleic acids in vivo or in vitro as end-points in short-term tests to detect potential chemical carcinogens will be presented. Based on recent data in the literature and from our own research activities, 2 major aspects of various short-term tests will be critically reviewed: a. their predictive value, in order to assess the possible carcinogenic risk of mycotoxins, and b. their utility to investigate the mechanism of metabolic activation of these chemicals in Mammals and in Man.