Toxins Affecting Other Organs

As in other organs, ABCBl is the best investigated transporter in the liver. It was demonstrated that turpentine-induced APR leads to a 50-70% reduction of ABCBl expression and function in rat liver tissue 48 h after treatment [103]. Similar results were observed in studies of endotoxin-triggered inflammation in which both constitutive and induced expression were affected in rodents [104]. Further experiments have shown that reduction of ABCBl expression is also linked to a reduction in ABCBl function. In two distinct experimental setups, Shiga-toxin II and endotoxin administration to rats prompted a substantial reduction in ABCBl function (assessed by hepatobiliary doxorubicin and "TC-sestamibi clearance), accompanied by a significant reduction in ABCBl protein expression [69, 105]. Likewise, endotoxin-treated mice displayed decreased liver-mediated doxorubcin clearance as a result of... 

High levels of mycotoxins in the diet can cause acute and chronic adverse effects on human health and a variety of animal species affecting different organs, especially the liver, kidney or to other systems such as the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. The symptoms caused by mycotoxins are often as different from each other as are the chemical structures of such toxins (Pohland et al., 1990 Camean Repetto, 1997 Faustman Omenn, 2005 Martinez Larranaga Anadon, 2006). 

A mouse bioassay method is useful for screening of the toxicity of various organisms from affected areas, although this method may not be sufficient for the identification of the toxin. Recently, distribution of tetrodotoxin in the marine ecosystem has expanded from puffer-fishes to some other animals. Rapid and accurate determination of the toxin occurring in those organisms is becoming increasingly important from the public health standpoint. 

Toxic organic chemicals can harm organisms in a variety of ways. Many animals simply become ill after feeding on poisoned plants. Others survive but are then eaten by larger animals that prey on them. The toxins accumulate in predators bodies over time as they consume affected prey animals. Thus, the concentration of a toxic chemical tends to increase as it moves up the food chain in a process known as biomagnification. In one study, for example, the concentration of DDT was found to be 0.25 ppm in the phytoplankton in a body of water, 0.123 ppm in zooplankton, 1.04 ppm in small fish, 4.83 ppm in larger fish, and 124 ppm in birds that fed on the fish. 

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