Therapeutic effect of dexamethasone in T-2 toxicosis

Pharm Res. 1987 Dec;4(6):527-30. doi: 10.1023/a:1016444009179.

Abstract

T-2 Toxin is a mycotoxin that induces toxemia characterized by numerous hematological and biochemical changes. We have previously shown that prostaglandin (PG) production in brain tissue is increased following T-2 toxin. The present study was designed in order to test the effect of dexamethasone on brain prostaglandins and survival of rats subjected to T-2 toxin. Furthermore, the effect of BW 755c, a dual inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonate metabolism, on the survival of rats exposed to T-2 toxin was also examined. The present study demonstrated that dexamethasone increases the survival of rats exposed to a highly lethal T-2 toxicosis. This effect was demonstrated at low as well as high doses and at different times after T-2 administration. Dexamethasone depressed PGE2 levels in the brain cortex 6 hr after T-2 toxin but abolished the reduction of PGE2 in brain cortex seen 24 hr after T-2. BW 755c had no consistent effect on the survival of rats in T-2 toxicosis. It is suggested that dexamethasone might be a useful therapeutic agent in T-2 toxicosis in animals and humans, but its mechanism of action remains obscure.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 4,5-Dihydro-1-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-amine
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects
  • Body Water / analysis
  • Brain Diseases / drug therapy
  • Brain Diseases / metabolism
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use*
  • Edema / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Prostaglandins / biosynthesis
  • Pyrazoles / therapeutic use
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Sesquiterpenes / toxicity*
  • T-2 Toxin / toxicity*
  • Toxemia / drug therapy*
  • Toxemia / mortality

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Prostaglandins
  • Pyrazoles
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • 4,5-Dihydro-1-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-amine
  • Dexamethasone
  • T-2 Toxin