Toxins 2016, 8(3), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins8030068
Heart Alterations after Domoic Acid Administration in Rats
Andres C. Vieira 1, José Manuel Cifuentes 2,*, Roberto Bermúdez 2, Sara F. Ferreiro 1, Albina Román Castro 3 and Luis M. Botana 1,*
1
Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo 27002, Spain
2
Departamento de Anatomía, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo 27002, Spain
3
Rede de Infraestruturas de Apoio á Investigación e ao Desenvolvemento Tecnolóxico (RIADT) Lugo, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo 27002, Spain
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Michio Murata
Received: 13 January 2016 / Revised: 21 February 2016 / Accepted: 22 February 2016 / Published: 10 March 2016
(This article belongs to the Collection Marine and Freshwater Toxins)
Abstract
Domoic acid (DA) is one of the best known marine toxins, causative of important neurotoxic alterations. DA effects are documented both in wildlife and experimental assays, showing that this toxin causes severe injuries principally in the hippocampal area. In the present study we have addressed the long-term toxicological effects (30 days) of DA intraperitoneal administration in rats. Different histological techniques were employed in order to study DA toxicity in heart, an organ which has not been thoroughly studied after DA intoxication to date. The presence of DA was detected by immunohistochemical assays, and cellular alterations were observed both by optical and transmission electron microscopy. Although histological staining methods did not provide any observable tissue damage, transmission electron microscopy showed several injuries: a moderate lysis of myofibrils and loss of mitochondrial conformation. This is the first time the association between heart damage and the presence of the toxin has been observed. View Full-Text
Figure 1
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Vieira, A.C.; Cifuentes, J.M.; Bermúdez, R.; Ferreiro, S.F.; Castro, A.R.; Botana, L.M. Heart Alterations after Domoic Acid Administration in Rats. Toxins 2016, 8, 68.
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