Differential effects of T-2 toxin on bone marrow and spleen erythropoiesis in mice

The 59Fe uptake into bone marrow and spleen was measured as a function of time after a single dose of T-2 toxin in mice (2.0 mg/kg, sc). It was found that, after a potent initial inhibition, there was a striking difference in the apparent repair capacity of both tissues: in spleen activity rapidly recovered (48–72 hr), whereas in bone marrow it remained significantly depressed for much longer (about 21 days). These results might be taken to indicate that T-2 toxin produces some sort of irreversible damage to bone marrow. However, working with T-2 toxin-treated splenectomized mice it was found that bone marrow erythropoietic activity was rapidly repaired, indicating that, under the conditions of the present experiments, there is no irreversible injury to the marrow haematopoietic or stromal cells. Further studies will be required using multiple doses or continuous toxin exposure in order to test the potential for long-lasting residual injury to the haematopoietic tissue. The present results show that the uptake of 59Fe into both spleen and bone marrow provides a rapid and sensitive method, suitable for primary evaluation of the extent of the erythropoietic damage produced by trichothecene mycotoxins.