GASTROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF NOVEL ANTIDOTAL COMBINATION IN RATS ACUTELY POISONED BY T-2 TOXIN

The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the antidotal potencies of methylprednisolone (soluble form, Lemod-solu®), nimesulide, N-acetylcysteine (Fluimucil®) and their combinations in rats treated with 1.0 LD50 (0.23 mg/kg) of trichothecene mycotoxin, T-2 toxin. Their antidotal efficacy was investigated by monitoring their effects on general condition, 24-hour-survival, body weight gain, food and water consumption and pathohistological changes in the gut of Wistar rats acutely treated with a single injection of T-2 toxin during a 4-week period. The highest protective index was obtained with methylprednisolone (2.43). Initial loss of body weight (after first 7 days) was found only in T-2 toxin group. During the whole experiment, in poisoned rats protected by methylprednisolone or methylprednisolone and nimesulide, a significant increase (p<0.001) in body weight gain, food and water consumption in comparison with T-2 toxin group was found. At the end of the experiment, N-acetylcysteine, nimesulide and their combination assured higher (p<0.05) weight gain, food and water consumption in comparison with T-2 toxin group. Signs of hemorrhagic diathesis and necrosis of the gut crypt epithelium and lymphoid tissues were found in the T-2 toxin group. Some of these histological alterations were presented in the gut of poisoned rats treated by nimesulide, Nacetylcysteine and their combination. The gut of T-2 toxin rats treated with a combination of methylprednisolone and nimesulide and especially methylprednisolone alone had a histological structure similar to the control group. These results clearly show that methylprednisolone, a well-known anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drug, exerts the best antidotal effect against T-2 toxin intoxication in rats.