Effect of the mycotoxin citrinin on composition of mouse liver and kidney

A single i.p. dose of citrinin (35 mg/kg) caused significant increases in kidney weight of male mice at 24 and 48 hr, decreases in DNA and protein at 24 hr and RNA for 48 hr. In the liver, the DNA content of treated animals was significantly lower for the 48-hr period with decreases in liver RNA and protein only at 6 and 12 hr. Liver glycogen was significantly lower at 24 hr after treatment. Daily i.p. doses of citrinin for 4 days (15 mg/kg/day) induced a 12% decrease in the liver to body weight ratio. Daily i.p. administration of 30 mg citrinin per kg/day for 4 days caused death in 50% of the treated animals. Surviving animals showed decreased body weight, food consumption, per cent liver to body weight and liver glycogen. Liver protein was 78% higher than in controls. The kidney to body weight ratio was elevated 20% in treated animals but total kidney protein was depressed. Pathological changes produced by a single dose of citrinin (35 mg/kg, i.p.) were confined to the liver and included liposis in parenchymal and peripheral lobular zones, depletion of glycogen and increased parenchymal mitosis.