Blood pressure changes and cardiovascular lesions found in rats given T-2 toxin, a trichothecene secondary metabolite of certain Fusarium microfungi.

White weanling rats were given intragastrically 4 doses of T-2 toxin (3 alpha-hydroxy-4 beta-1,5-diacetoxy-8 alpha-(3-methylbutyryloxy)-12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-ene) a secondary metabolite of certain Fusarium species, 6 out of 9 treated rats developed increased blood pressure; these animals showed microscopically severe cardiovascular abnormalities. Occasional contamination of foodstuffs wh Fusarium may contribute to hypertension and cardiovascular lesions in animals and man.