Molecular Aspects of Human Ochratoxicosis in Tunisia

• Published in: Journal of toxicology. Toxin reviews Vol. 18; no. 3-4; pp. 263 - 276
• Main Authors: Maaroufi, K., Abid, S., Chenf, A., Achour, A, Zakhama, A., Creppy, E. E., Bacha, H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 01-01-1999
• Subjects: Tunisia
• ISSN: 0731-3837; 1525-6057
• DOI: 10.3109/15569549909009257

Ochratoxin A (OTA) has been found in Tunisia since 1983 in foodstuffs and human blood pnmanly from rural areas A nephropathy sirmlar to Balkan Endemic Nephropathy (BEN) has been found in Tunisian populations especially in nephropathic patients having CrrA in blood due to chronic exposure by ingestion of contaminated food Some of them have shown several karyomegalic tubular cells in their renal biopsy
We designed investigations to produce in rat experimental nephropathy using OTA. These studies showed karyomegalic cells with alteration of renal tubular tissue combined with megacytosis. These observations suggested that the karyomegaly and megacytosis are induced by OTA in rats and could be also in humans. In addition, abnormal mitosis are observed at the early stage of the pathology (30 days of treatment), suggesting that renal tubular cells can regenerate if exposure to OTA is limited to a short period. After 90 days of treatment the lesions became irreversible. The karyomegaly was worst. Apoptotic cells appeared, but abnormal mitosis were no longer observed.