The toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ) on the physiological functions of swine alveolar macrophages (SAM) were investigated. Freshly isolated SAM were incubated with various AFB1 concentrations (1.6 × 10-1 - 1.6 × 105 nmol/L) and time periods, and their phagocytic ability, synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein, and cell activation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), were analysed. Results demonstrated that a significant (p < .05) reduction (60%) in Staphylococcus aureus uptaken by SAM appeared 3 hr after AFB1 (>16 nmol/L) treatment. The synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein were markedly reduced, among which DNA and protein synthesis were affected more noticeably. The activation of SAM by LPS was significantly (p < .05) suppressed when the concentration of AFB1 reached 1.6 × 103 nmol/L. In general, most of the analysed effects were more prominent as AFB1 concentration or incubation period increased. Taken together, AFB 1 could elicit significant adverse effects on the physiological functions of SAM. Exposure of pigs to aflatoxin-contaminated feed may increase their susceptibility to various secondary infections.
Keywords: aflatoxin; swine alveolar macrophage; toxicity.
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