Acute toxicity of PR toxin, a mycotoxin from Penicillium roqueforti.

The toxic effects of PR toxin were observed in mice, rats, anesthetized cats and isolated rat auricle preparations. In mice and rats the toxic effects included abdominal writhing, decrease of motor activity and respiratory rate, weakness of hindleg and ataxia. In mice, the i.p. LD50 was 5.8 mg/kg. In mice, rats and cats PR toxin given i.p. caused ascites fluid an edema in the scrotum and lungs, and i.v. injection caused edema in the lungs, giving rise to a large volume of pleural and pericardial fluid. In rats, at the LD50 dose level (11.6 mg/kg, i.p. and 8.2 mg/kg, i.v.), the water content in the lungs was increased, but in the skin it was decreased. Blood K+, hematocrit, red blood cell, white blood cell, hemoglobin, uric acid, cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen and alkaline phosphatase concentrations were all increased, while the total protein and albumin contents were decreased after i.p. injection of PR toxin. High content of protein was found in the pleural fluid and fluid due to ascites. In anesthetized cats the blood pressure and respiratory rate were progressively decreased and the heart rate was reflexly increased after i.p. injection. The i.v. injection produced a multiple response on the arterial blood pressure, but with a progressively decreasing heart rate. Arrhythmias were observed in the late shock stage in the case of i.p. or i.v. injection. In the isolated rat auricle preparations contractile force was more affected that heart rate. We conclude that PR toxin produced acute toxic effects in animals via an increase of capillary permeability and a direct damage to the lungs, heart, liver and kidney.