Food and Nutrition Sciences, 2011, 2, 314-322 doi:10.4236/fns.2011.24045 Published Online June 2011 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/fns) Investigation of the Biochemical and Histological Changes Induced by Zearalenone Mycotoxin on Liver in Male Mice and the Protective Role of Crude Venom Extracted from Jellyfish Cassiopea Andromeda Madeha Al-Seeni1, Nagwa El-Sawi2, Soad Shaker3, Asma Al-Amoudi1 1Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 2Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt; 3Histology, Medicine Faculty, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Email: [email protected] Received February 1st, 2011; revised March 3rd, 2011; accepted March 8th, 2011. ABSTRACT Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species of fungi which contaminate human foods and animal feeds worldwide. In this study hepatotoxicity of ZEN was evaluated in mice by oral admini- stration of single and repeated doses of ZEN mycotoxin (2.7 mg/kg b.w.). The protective effect of crude venom ex- tracted from jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda was also assessed. Mice were divided into four groups (N = 10). G1: re- ceiving the toxin once and sacrificed 48 h later, G2: toxin administered twice for one week, G3: toxin administered twice a week for two weeks, G4: pretreated orally by a single dose of crude venom (1.78 mg/20 g) 24 hours prior to administration of ZEN twice a week for two weeks. Each treated group had its corresponding control which received 1% DMSO saline. ZEN treatment significantly increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartateaminotrnsferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities after 48 hours and two weeks, while ALT was also significantly in- creased after one week. Tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNF-α) level was undetected in treated and control groups except the group treated with ZEN for one week. Alphafetoprotein (AFP) level was increased significantly only after two weeks. The activity of antioxidants was significantly increased in all groups. ZEN was also found to modify the serum proteins especially gamma-globulin which showed a significant decrease after 48 h and two weeks. Improvement in liver func- tion occurred in the group pretreated with the crude venom, and AFP and antioxidants returned to normal level, while TNF-α level was also undetected. Gamma globulin was significantly increased. The recovery observed in the group which was pretreated with crude venom may related to bradykinin content of this venom which exhibits a hepatoprotec- tive effect. Histological changes in mouse liver coincided with biochemical changes. In conclusion, this study revealed that ZEN induced liver function and structural changes promising an approach for using a crude venom of jellyfish to enhance liver function. Keywords: Mycotoxin, Zearalenone, Liver, Mice, Jellyfish Crude Venom 1. Introduction [1]. Zearalenone is implicated in reproductive disorders of farm animals [2-4] and in hyperestrogenic syndroms Zearalenone (ZEN) (previously known as F-2 toxin) is a in humans [5]. Zearalenone is mainly metabolized in the non steroidal oestrogenic mycotoxin biosynthesized through liver with the production of twoessential metabolites a polyketide pathway by a variety of Fusariumfungi, in- α-zearalenol and β-zearalenol [6]. Alpha zearalenol pos- cluding F. graminearum, F. culmorum, F. cerealis, F. sesses a ten-times higher estrogenic activity than ZEN equiseti, F. crookwellenseand F. semitectum, which are [7]. The estrogenic effect of ZEN may relate to the in- common soil fungi, in temperate and warm countries, creased incidence of hepatocellular adenomas in mice [8]. and are regular contaminants of cereal crops worldwide To date there has been much research into the venoms of Copyright © 2011 SciRes. FNS Investigation of the Biochemical and Histological Changes Induced by Zearalenone Mycotoxin on Liver in Male Mice 315 and the Protective Role of Crude Venom Extracted from Jellyfish Cassiopea Andromeda jellyfish which attract significant medical attention, such C2: Mice given orally 1 ml of 1% DMSO saline twice as the box jellyfish (Chironexfleckeri) and the irukandji a week for 1 week. (Carukiabarnesi) and blue jellyfish (Catostylusmosaicus) T2: Mice given orally 2.7 mg/kg b.w. of ZEN twice a in the hope of finding antivenom, or a molecule or pep- week for 1 week. tide of medical importance [9]. The toxins of these coe- C3: Mice given orally 1 ml of 1% DMSO saline twice lenterates had been detected to include bradykinin and a week for 2 weeks. related polypeptides which have a kinin-like action [10]. T3: Mice given orally 2.7 mg/kg b.w. of ZEN twice a Bradykinin has been found to exert hepatoprotective ef- week for 2 weeks. fects in rodents. According to Abu-Amra and Abd T4: Mice given a dose of 1.78 mg/20 g b.w. of jelly- El-rehim [11], the extracted crude venom of Jelly fish, fish crude venom, then after 24 h, given orally 2.7 mg/kg Cassiopea Andromeda stimulates the cellular prolifera- b.w. of ZEN twice a week for 2 weeks. At the end of tion of white mice duodenum. It activates liver cells by each specified period, mice were anesthetized using di- increasing the metabolic rate [12]. Also, Abdel-Rehim ethyl ether and dissected. Blood samples from all groups [13] proved a protective effect of this crude venom in were collected from the orbital sinus [17], in plain tubes case of gastric ulceration evoked by indomethacin. In the and centrifuged at 1000 rpm for 15 min to separate the present study, the effect of ZEN on the liver was investi- serum, then divided into several aliquots and stored at gated, because the hepatocytes constitute a target system –20˚C until analysis was performed. After the collection for zearalenone toxicity [14,15]. Further, the protective of blood samples, anaesthetized animals were sacrificed influence of the crude venom extracted from jellyfish by cervical dislocation. The abdomen was op in sterile Cassiopea Andromeda against the toxic action of ZEN ened and the liver was rapidly dissected out, washed in was also estimated. sterile saline and fixed in 10% buffered formalin for his- topathological studies. 2. Materials and Methods 2.3. Biochemical Assays 2.1. Chemicals 2.3.1. Determination of ALT, AST and ALP Activities Zearalenone (5 mg) was purchased as pure crystal from Spectrometric diagnostic kits were used to assess the BioAustralis fine chemicals (Smithfield, NSW, Austra- activities of ALT, AST and ALP. The results were auto- lia). Crude venom separated from the jelly fish Cassio- matically calculated by VITROS 250 system analyzer pia Andromeda from Red sea [1] was a kind gift from (Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, a Johnson and Johnson com- Prof. Soheir A. Abdel-Rehim, Department of Zoology, pany, Rochester, NY, U.S.A.). Toxicology laboratory, SohagUniversity, Sohag, Egypt. 2.3.2. Determination of AFP Concentration 2.2. Animals and Treatment Mouse AFP ELISA kit (Uscn Life Science, Wuhan, Seventy inbred, adult (8 weeks old) male Balb/c mice China) was used to determine AFP concentration in sera weighing 20 - 30 g were obtained from King Fahd Med- of mice. ical Research Center, King AbdulAziz University, Jed- 2.3.3. Determination of TNF-α dah, Saudi Arabia. The animals were conditioned for two TNF-α was assayed using mouse TNF-α ELISA kit weeks at room temperature. A commercial balanced diet ((Biovendor, Modrice, Czech Republic). and tap water, ad labium was provided throughout the experiment. ZEN was dissolved in DMSO and diluted to 2.3.4. Determination of Antioxidants 1:100 in a sterile saline solution (0.9% NaCl) to produce Antioxidants activity was evaluated using a spectromet- a working stock which was stored at 4˚C. Crude venom ric kit (Cayman Chemical Company, Ann Arbor, Michi- of 46.2 mg was dissolved in 10 ml distilled water to pro- gan, USA). duce a working stock and stored at 4˚C [16]. Animals 2.3.5. Determination of Serum Protein were distributed randomly into seven groups among them, The percentages of albumin and globulins were deter- three are control groups and four tested groups. All the mined according to Helena serum protein procedure mice in the control groups were subjected to oral admini- (Helena Laboratories, Beaumont, Texas, USA). stration of 1% DMS and the other four groups were given oral doses of ZEN toxin as described below: 2.3.6. Preparation of Liver Section and C1: Mice given orally 1 ml of 1% DMSO saline and Histopathological Examination left for 48 hours. Small pieces of the large lobes of livers 2 × 2 mm were T1: Mice given orally 2.7 mg/kg b.w. of ZEN and left washed by saline, re-fixed in 10% buffered formalin and 48 hours. then, embedded in paraffin. Sections of tissues were cut Copyright © 2011 SciRes. FNS 316 Investigation of the Biochemical and Histological Changes Induced by Zearalenone Mycotoxin on Liver in Male Mice and the Protective Role of Crude Venom Extracted from Jellyfish Cassiopea Andromeda at 0.5 μm and mounted on slides. The slides were stained Table 1. Effect of zearalenone (2.7 mg/kg b.w.) on liver en- with haematoxylin and eosin. The procedures of prepara- zymes. tion and staining were done according to Drury and Wal- Groups ALT (U/L) AST (U/L) ALP (U/L) lington [18]. Stained sections were examined and photo- graphed using digital camera, attached to Olympus CX21 C1 20.75 ± 0.89 59.13 ± 0.33 83.02 ± 0.64 light microscope and connected to computer. T1 33.51 ± 0.32** 83.38 ± 0.66** 201.51 ± 0.32** 2.3.7. Statistical Analysis C2 23.76 ± 0.16 51.29 ± 0.55 82.05 ± 0.77 Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical T2 41.20 ± 0.79** 51.02 ± 0.64 83.02 ± 0.64 Package for Social Science (SPSS for windows, version C 21.76 ± 0.16 57.81 ± 0.36 84.85 ± 0.72 12) (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, U.S.A.).