The formation of 2,3-dihydroxy-2,3-dihydro-aflatoxin B1 by the metabolism of aflatoxin B1 by liver microsomes isolated from certain avian and mammalian species and the possible role of this metabolite in the acute toxicity of aflatoxin B1

Abstract The separation of aflatoxin B 2a , and 2,3-dihydroxy-2,3-dihydro-aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 -dhd) and the Tris complexes of these compouds by high-performance liquid chromatography are described. Examination of the metabolism of aflatoxin B 1 by microsomes isolated from rat, mouse, guinea pig, and chicken livers has shown that the previously reported production of AFB 2a was due to a misidentification of AFB 1 -dhd. The relative production of this metabolite by microsomes from the various species parallels their in vivo susceptibilities to acute aflatoxin B 1 poisoning. AFB 1 -dhd is shown to be a potent inhibitor of protein synthesis in an in vitro system and this may be a mechanism relevant to the acutely toxic action of aflatoxin B 1 .