Does anyone have access to this paper? (J Neurol Sci. 2006 Jul 13 - Title: Can low level exposure to ochratoxin-A cause parkinsonism?)

[Guest guest]

I'd really like to get a copy or verbal summary of this paper... with a

little more specific information that is in the abstract..

Does anyone know anything more about this?

*1: *J Neurol Sci. <javascript:AL_get(this, 'jour', 'J Neurol Sci.');> 2006

Jul 13; [Epub ahead of print]

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=pubmed_Abstract & db=pubmed & c\

md=Display & dopt=pubmed_pubmed & from_uid=16844142 & itool=ExternalSearch>

*Can low level exposure to ochratoxin-A cause parkinsonism?*

*Sava

V*<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Search & itool=pubm\

ed_Abstract & term=%22Sava+V%22%5BAuthor%5D>,

*Reunova

O*<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Search & itool=pubm\

ed_Abstract & term=%22Reunova+O%22%5BAuthor%5D>,

*Velasquez

A*<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Search & itool=pubm\

ed_Abstract & term=%22Velasquez+A%22%5BAuthor%5D>,

*-Ramos

J*<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed & cmd=Search & itool=pubm\

ed_Abstract & term=%22%2DRamos+J%22%5BAuthor%5D>

..

University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; Haley VA Hospital, Tampa,

FL, USA.

Mycotoxins are fungal metabolites with pharmacological activities that have

been utilized in the production of antibiotics, growth promoters, and other

classes of drugs. Some mycotoxins have been developed as biological and

chemical warfare agents. Bombs and ballistic missiles loaded with aflatoxin

were stockpiled and may have been deployed by Iraq during the first Gulf

War. In light of the excess incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

in veterans from Operation Desert Storm, the potential for delayed

neurotoxic effects of low doses of mycotoxins should not be overlooked.

Ochratoxin-A (OTA) is a common mycotoxin with complex mechanisms of action,

similar to that of the aflatoxins. Acute administration of OTA at non-lethal

doses (10% of the LD(50)) have been shown to increase oxidative DNA damage

in brain up to 72 h, with peak effects noted at 24 h in midbrain (MB),

caudate/putamen (CP) and hippocampus (HP). Levels of dopamine (DA) and its

metabolites in the striatum (e.g., CP) were shown to be decreased in a

dose-dependent manner. The present study focused on the effects of chronic

low dose OTA exposure on regional brain oxidative stress and striatal DA

metabolism. Continuous administration of low doses of OTA with implanted

subcutaneous Alzet minipumps caused a small but significant decrease in

striatal DA levels and an upregulation of anti-oxidative systems and DNA

repair. It is possible that low dose exposure to OTA will result in an

earlier onset of parkinsonism when normal age-dependent decline in striatal

DA levels are superimposed on the mycotoxin-induced lesion.

PMID: 16844142 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]