Use of chick embryos for prediction of embryotoxic effects of mycotoxins in mammals]

Embryotoxic effects of 25 mycotoxins were investigated in two-, three- and four-day chick embryos; the results were evaluated on the eighth day of development. The embryotoxicity ranged from 0.0001 to 0.1 microgram per embryo in T-2 toxin, aflatoxin B1, G1, B2 and M1, cytochalasin E, ochratoxin A and PR-toxin; from 0.1 to 1.0 microgram per embryo in sterigmatocystin, aflatoxin G2, vomitoxin (4deoxynivalenol), patulin, rubratoxin B, secalonic acid D, mycophenolic acid, and from 1.0 to 100 micrograms per embryo in penicillic acid, cyclopiazonic acid, tenuazonic acid, citrinine, brevianamide A, zearalenone, fusaric acid, griseofulvin, kojic acid and 8-methoxypsolaren. Acute cardiotoxic effects were observed in PR-toxin, patulin, rubratoxin B, penicillic acid, citrinine and zearalenone. Teratogenic effects with a spectrum of different embryonal malformations occurred in T-2 toxin, ochratoxin A, PR-toxin, patulin, secalonic acid D, mycophenolic acid and citrinine. The embryotoxic effects demonstrated in chick embryos correlated with the well-know literary data on mammals. Considering the different chemical composition and biological effects of mycotoxins, we suppose that the embryotoxicity test of chick embryos will also be suitable for testing other biologically active substances in the environment.