1 research outputs found
Acute aflatoxin B1 – Induced hepatotoxicity alters gene expression and disrupts lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in rats
In this study, alterations in lipid metabolism associated with acute aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) induced hepatotoxicity
and gene expression changes underlying these effects were investigated. Rats were orally administered three
doses (0.25 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg) of AFB1 for seven days; after which blood was collected and liver
excised. Lipid profiles of plasma and liver were determined spectrophotometrically while the expression of genes
associated with lipid and lipoprotein metabolism was assayed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.
Acute exposure to AFB1 increased the levels of plasma and liver cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids.
AFB1 at 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg resulted in a dose-dependent (1.2 and 1.5 fold, respectively) downregulation
of hepatic Cpt1a with a concomitant 1.2 and 1.5 fold increase in the level of plasma FFA, respectively.
A similar observation of 1.2 and 1.3 fold increase was also observed in plasma triglyceride concentration, at both
respective doses. AFB1 also decreased the relative expression of Ahr, Lipc and Lcat whereas, it upregulated Scarb1
in a dose dependent manner. AFB1-induced dysregulation of the expression of lipid and lipoprotein metabolizing
genes may be one mechanism linking AFB1 to altered lipid metabolism and ultimately risk for coronary heart
disease