Toxic effects of neurotoxins (Anatoxin-a) purified from blue-green algae Pseudoanbaena limnetica on some organs in laboratory mice (Mus musculus L.).

Blue-green algae produce a wide range of toxic compounds, particularly neurotoxins, which effects have only been shown on the central and peripheral nervous system. The current study was conducted to show the histopathological effects of anatoxin-a purified from local isolates from Shutt Al-Arab river water in Basra governorate / Southern Iraq on some organs including testes, liver and kidneys. Results showed the ability of alga P. limnetica to produce anatoxin-a to reach 35 µg/g D.W. Three groups of laboratory mice (n=8) were injected intraperitonial daily for 15 days under laboratory conditions with (1)-Normal saline (Control group), (2) - low dose group with purified anatoxin-a = 0.5 µg/L and (3) - high dose group =1 µg/L). Purified toxin showed many histopathological effects at low and high doses and the effects increase with increasing dose. The testes showed a decreased number of elongated spermatids in central tubules in low dose group, while in high dose group, good evidence of the gross morphological effect of seminiferous tubules is seen which appear devoid of elongated spermatids in most tubules with predominant rounded spermatids. Liver cells in low dose appear more eosinophilic and without nuclei with fatty degeneration of sinusoids and mild inflammatory infiltrate. The appearance of large vacuoles within hepatocytes, necrotic cells, sinusoids poorly visualized with increased inflammatory cells in liver tissue under high dose. Kidneys at low dose showed increased eosinophilia of renal tubules cells, mild degenerative changes, hemorrhage and decrease in size of the urinary capsule. However, extravasation of red cells, congestion, dilatation of capillaries and chronic inflammatory cells were found under high dose exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]