Subacute toxicity study of patulin in the rat: effects on the kidney and the gastro-intestinal tract.

Female and male Wistar rats were given drinking-water containing patulin at concentrations of 0, 24, 84 or 295 mg/litre citrate buffer (1 mM) for 4 wk. Compared with the controls, there were decreases in food and liquid intake by rats given the mid and high doses of patulin and the body weights of rats in the high-dose group were also decreased. The creatinine clearance in the high-dose group was lowered, although morphological glomerular damage was not observed. In the high-dose group, fundic ulcers in the stomach and enlargement and activation of the pancreatico-duodenal lymph nodes were noticed, while villous hyperaemia in the duodenum was observed in the mid- and high-dose groups. From the present data it can be concluded that high doses of patulin, administered via the drinking-water, caused effects on the kidney and gastro-intestinal tract. Since no changes in the relative weight or histological appearance of the adrenal glands were observed, it is suggested that the fundic ulcers in the stomach were caused by a direct effect of patulin and not indirectly (i.e. by stress).