Bacterial overgrowth in the jejunum of ICR mice and Wistar rats orally administered with a single lethal dose of fusarenon-X, a trichothecene mycotoxin

A single oral dose of fusarenon-X (F-X), a trichothecene mycotoxin, resulted in abnormal microflora in the jejunum in ICR mice and Wistar rats with some differences in dose response between the species. In the acute phase, enterobacteria, streptococci, Clostridium perfringens and bacteroides showed remarkably increased counts in the jejunum of mice and rats dosed with F-X while lactobacilli showed a decrease in count. F-X brought an invasion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa into the livers, lungs, kidneys and spleens of ICR mice. Changes in the jejunal microflora appeared after 7 h in ICR mice and after 24 h in Wistar rats after a single oral dose of F-X of 7–5 and 4–0 mg/kg b.w., respectively, and the microflora returned to its normal state at 72 h in mice and 96 h in rats. The changes of intestinal microflora were followed by alterations in the growth curves of both animal species. The pH in the glandular stomach was also greatly enhanced before changes in the jejunal microflora. Acute F-X intoxication may be an involved manifestation of essential cytotoxicity of F-X mycotoxin alone and secondary bacterial overgrowth in the bowel.     

INHIBITORY EFFECT OF 5-BROMOURACIL AND 5-FLUOROURACIL ON PHOTOPERIODICALLY INDUCED GERMINATION OF ERAGROSTIS SEED

1. The inhibitory effects of 5-bromouracil and 5-fluorouracil onthe photoperiodically induced germination of Eragrostis ferrugineaseed were investigated. 5-BU was more effective than 5-FU ininhibiting germination, but less effective in suppressing seedlingelongation.
2. The inhibition of germination by 5-BU was specificallyex ertedon the inductive dark process, which i9 essential tothe photoperiodicgermination induction. A high concentration(10^–1:M) of5-FU also elicited a complete inhibition ofgermination. 5-FU,however, did not affect the photoperiodicinduction processes,but inhibited the processes subsequentto them. The inhibitionof germination by 5-BU or 5-FU was alleviatedby neither uracil,thymidine nor orotjc acid.
3. The 3eedlinggrowth was effectively inhibited by 5-FU, and theinhibitionwas reversed by uracil, uridine and orotic acid,but not bythymine and thymidine. The effect of 5-FU may, therefore,possiblybe by virtue of its depressing action upon ribonucleicacidsynthesis.

(Received April 18, 1963; )     

STUDIES ON COMPONENTS OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM OF BEGONIA LEAVES

Investigations were made of the properties of diaphorase, cytochromec reductases, cytochrome c oxidase, and other components ofelectron transfer system in various fractions of leaf homogenateof Begonia semperflorens.

1. All the fractions tested showed the existence of cytochromec oxidase, succinic- and reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide-cytochromec reductases, and diaphorase. Activities of these enzymes werefound to be associated mainly with the particulate fractions.The particulate fractions showed, in particular, a capacityof reducing oxidized cytochrome c with fumarate, malate, -ketoglutarate,ß-hydroxy-butyrate, and citrate.
2. Optimum pH foroxidation of cytochrome c by the particulatefractions was foundto be 5.5, while that for reduction was7.2.
3. The activityof cytochrome c reductase was partially suppressedby malonate.Partial inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase wascaused by azideand cyanide, the inhibitory effects observedbeing strongerwith particulate fractions than with solublefractions.

(Received August 11, 1962; )