2010 Volume 72 Issue 11 Pages 1507-1511
The effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) on the viability, chemiluminescent (CL) response and expression of cytokine mRNA of bovine neutrophils (PMNs) were evaluated. The opsonized zymosan (OPZ)-stimulated CL response of PMNs was significantly (P<0.05) decreased by AFB1 (>50 pg/ml), AFM1 (>50 pg/ml) and ZEA (>50 pg/ml). The phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated CL response PMNs was significantly (P<0.05) decreased by AFB1 (>0.5 pg/ml), AFM1 (>50 pg/ml), ZEA (>500 pg/ml) and DON (>5 pg/ml). Treatment with AFB1 resulted in reduction in the mRNA expression of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α of PMNs stimulated with OPZ and PMA. These results suggest that these four mycotoxins have inhibitory effects on the function of bovine PMNs.