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Title: USE OF RATS AS A MODEL TO STUDY THE CARDIOMYOPATHY INDUCED BY FUSARIUM PROLIFERATUM AND ITS NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTION AS MEASURED BY ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY

Author
item NAGARAJ, RAMAKRISHNAN - U OF WI, MADISON
item WU, WEIDONG - U OF WI, MADISON
item WILL, JAMES - U OF WI, MADISON
item Vesonder, Ronald

Submitted to: Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/11/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: To determine if thiamine supplementation negated the cardiotoxic effects of F. proliferatum culture (FPC), electrocardiography (ECG) was used in three-week-old CD rats. FPC is a toxic fungal species that produces several mycotoxins such as moniliformin (potent cardiotoxic mycotoxin), fumonisins and other toxic substances. A 2 x 3 factorial design experiment was conducted for 4 weeks in which the rats (4 rats per treatment) were fed with 0 or 4% FPC, supplemented with varying levels of thiamine (0, 10 and 50 mg/kg). Weekly measurements of ECG, bodyweight, feed intake were measured and the heart weight, plasma lactate and glucose, whole blood pyruvate and hematocrit were determined at the end of the study. Only the 4% FPC-fed rats showed ECG changes such as bradycardia and myocardial ischemia. A significant reduction in the cumulative weight gain (P < 0.01) and a significant increase in relative heart weight (P < 0.01) was seen in the 4% FPC-fed rats. Thiamine supplementation completely negated the toxic effects of the FPC. Our results indicate that rats can be used as a model to study cardiotoxic mycotoxins and thiamine supplementation can overcome the toxic effects of FPC. These results also support the Chinese mycotoxin hypothesis of Keshan Disease (an endemic human cardiomyopathy).