Adrenal cortical necrosis caused by T-2 mycotoxicosis in female, but not male, mice.

Experimentally, adrenal cortical parenchymal cell necrosis was induced by T-2 mycotoxin in female, but not male, mice. The lesion occurred in the adrenal glands in 11 of 11 female and 0 of 10 male mice given a nose-only aerosol exposure to T-2 mycotoxin. The necrosis, restricted to the zona fasciculata, began at the X zone interface and extended peripherally to involve 15% to 70% of the zone. Both light and transmission electron microscopies were used to determine whether the cellular and subcellular damage involved parenchymal cells of the zona fasciculata. Extensive necrosis of cortical thymocytes and necrosis of lymphoid cells in follicles of the spleen, lymph nodes, and intestine-associated lymphoid tissue were observed in both sexes. This is the first report to describe adrenal gland necrosis associated with exposure to T-2 mycotoxin.