Mutagenic Effect of Nivalenol, Fusarenon X, Penicillic Acid and their Combinations with Aflatoxin B1 This work deals with the genotoxic risk of selected mycotoxins (nivalenol, fusarenon X, penicillic acid) and their combinations with aflatoxin B1, known as a potent mutagen. These substances may be produced by microscopical fungi as their secondary metabolites contaminated food. The mutagenic activity was tested by Ames test using two bacterial strains Salmonella typhimurium and by cytogenetic analysis of Chinese hamster bone marrow cells (Cricetullus griseus). Except mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 , in the Ames test with metabolic activation, the mutagenic activity of tested mycotoxins was not recorded in contrast to combinations of tested mycotoxins with aflatoxin B1. The mutagenic activity of combinations of nivalenol with aflatoxin B1 and fusarenon X with aflatoxin B1 wassignificantly lower (in some concentrations) than aflatoxin B1 mutagenicity alone. The frequencies of aberrant bone marrow cells of Chinese male hamsters were significantly increased by fusarenon X or penicillic acid, whereas the frequencies of aberrant bone marrow cells of animals affected by nivalenol were the same as in the control group. The combination of fusarenon X with aflatoxin B1 induced a significantly higher frequency of aberrant cells only in males, the combination nivalenol with aflatoxin B1 only in females in comparison to the control group. The mutagenicity induced by penicillic acid and fusarenon X combination was insignificantly increased as compared to the control group. The tested mycotoxin combinations did not exhibit significantly different clastogenic effect ascompared to aflatoxin B1 alone. Possible mechanisms of mycotoxin interactions are discussed.

        Key words: Amestest - mutagenic activity - chromosomal aberrations - mycotoxins