Acute toxicity of T2 toxin in rats, mice, guinea pigs, and pigeons

The acute intravenous, intragastric, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal and intratracheal toxicity of T2 toxin has been studied in rats, mice, guinea-pigs, and pigeons. The acute LD50 values obtained varied between 1.0 and 14 mg X kg-1, there being little difference between the various routes in any given species. T2 caused vomiting in pigeons at doses of one fifth or less the LD50. In rats doses of 3.0 and 5.0 mg X kg-1 T2 produced lymphopenia, reticulocytosis, and in the highest dose groups normoblastaemia. Additionally, changes in plasma alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase activities were seen. Histological changes were observed in lymphoid organs and were most severe in the thymus, lymph nodes, and Peyer's patches. The spleen was less severely affected. Gastrointestinal changes consisting of dead and dying lymphoid cells throughout the lamina propria were seen together with, in some cases, mucosal ulceration. The time course of the development and of the reversal of the changes was followed.