Acta Pharm. 48 (1998) 47-53
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus ochraceus and is a natural contaminant of mouldy food. An increased presence of this toxin has been found in various foodstuffs in the areas characterized by the occurrence of endemic nephropathy. In this report, questions were tried to be clarified of whether the presence of OTA in relatively low concentrations in food taken over a prolonged period of time might as well lead to toxic alteration in rats similar to the subclinical phase of endemic nephropathy, then of significance of urinary glycosaminoglycans and chondroitin sulfate/heparan sulfate ratio as diagnostic parameters. The treatments of rats with low doses of ochratoxin A resulted in kidney impairment with no differences in urinary glycosaminoglycans. Therefore, glycosaminoglycans are not sensitive enough and they are only not specific diagnostic parameters of kidney alterations induced with low doses of ochratoxin A.
Keywords: ochratoxin A, endemic nephropathy, glycosaminoglycans, chondroitin sulfate/heparan sulfate ratio