Comparison of Anorectic Potencies of Type A Trichothecenes T-2 Toxin, HT-2 Toxin, Diacetoxyscirpenol, and Neosolaniol

Trichothecene mycotoxins are common contaminants in cereal grains and negatively impact human and animal health. Although anorexia is a common hallmark of type B trichothecenes-induced toxicity, less is known about the anorectic potencies of type A trichothecenes. The purpose of this study was to compare the anorectic potencies of four type A trichothecenes (T-2 toxin (T-2), HT-2 toxin (HT-2), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), and neosolaniol (NEO)) in mice. Following oral exposure to T-2, HT-2, DAS, and NEO, the no observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) and lowest observed adverse effect levels (LOAELs) were 0.01, 0.01, 0.1, and 0.01 mg/kg body weight (BW), and 0.1, 0.1, 0.5, and 0.1 mg/kg BW, respectively. Following intraperitoneal (IP) exposure to T-2, HT-2, DAS, and NEO, the NOAELs were 0.01 mg/kg BW, except for DAS (less than 0.01 mg/kg BW), and the LOAELs were 0.1, 0.1, 0.01, and 0.1 mg/kg BW, respectively. Taken together, the results suggest that (1) type A trichothecenes could dose-dependently elicit anorectic responses following both oral gavage and IP exposure in mice; (2) the anorectic responses follow an approximate rank order of T-2 = HT-2 = NEO > DAS for oral exposure, and DAS > T-2 = HT-2 = NEO for IP administration; (3) IP exposure to T-2, HT-2, DAS, and NEO evoked stronger anorectic effects than oral exposure. From a public health perspective, comparative anorectic potency data should be useful for establishing toxic equivalency factors for type A trichothecenes.