Abstract
AFLATOXIN is the name given to a group of related toxic agents produced by the mould Aspergillus flavus and which have been characterized chemically1,2. Diets containing aflatoxin, such as toxic ground-nut meal, have been found to produce pathological changes3–6, in particular, liver injury7, in a wide variety of species of animals. The most toxic member of the aflatoxin group so far recognized has been designated aflatoxin B1 (ref. 8). The rat is considerably less susceptible to aflatoxin than most other species investigated and for male rats the LD50 is 7 mg aflatoxin B1/kg body-weight (administered by stomach tube, dissolved in dimethylformamide 5 mg/ml.)9. Such a dose produces an extensive hepatic periportal necrosis after 48 h. It seems likely that the toxic agent has a direct action on the liver as within 30 min of administration it is possible to detect aflatoxin B1in the liver10 and within 60 min most of the administered dose has been concentrated there.
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CLIFFORD, J., REES, K. Aflatoxin: a Site of Action in the Rat Liver Cell. Nature 209, 312–313 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/209312a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/209312a0
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