Effect of zinc on the toxicity of the mycotoxin sporidesmin to the rat

The toxicity of sporidesmin to rats fed diets containing either 4 ppm or 200 ppm Zn was determined. The high zinc diet doubled the LD₅₀ level for sporidesmin given as a single dose, but the LD₅₀ dose for rats on a zinc deficient diet was not significantly different from that for rats on a diet containing zinc at levels sufficient for normal growth. Subsequent trials demonstrated that large doses of ZnSO₄ given orally protected rats from sporidesmin poisoning. The protection was short lived as zinc needed to be given at or soon after sporidesmin challenge.