Subacute treatment with aflatoxin b1 induces motility, histological and ultrastructure alterations of mice colon

Abstract EN

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent food contaminant that affects the gastrointestinal tract.

The present study evaluated the effect of daily administration of AFB1 (20 and 40 µg/100 g b.wt.) via stomach tube for 15 and 30 days on the motility and structure of mice colon.

Exposure for 15 days with any of the two doses showed no significant effects on the motility.

Meanwhile, treatment with any for 30 days induced sharp decrease in the amplitudes of colon muscles contractility.

Histopathologically, AFB1 showed various dose and time dependent changes including epithelial desquamation, aggregation of numerous inflammatory cells at the lamina propria, detachment of muscle fibers and edema at the muscularis propria.

Moreover, administration of AFB1 for 30 days revealed damaged tubular glands, which were invaded with inflammatory cells.

Treatment with the high dose induced atrophy of the muscularis propria.

Ultrastructure studies showed nuclear abnormalities, cytoplasmic vacuolization and damage of some microvilli in the mucosal epithelial cells.

Swollen mitochondria with damaged cristae, vesiculated endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear pyknosis in the absorptive epithelial cells were also recorded.

In conclusion, long time exposure of the colon to AFB1 induced variable structural alterations and severe inhibition on colon motility that affected the feed efficiency and reduced the growth rate of the aflatoxicated mice.

Moreover, inflammation, atrophy and fibrosis of the colon musculature could A