Environmentally occurring aflatoxins B-1 and M-1 notifyably harms pancreatic islets

Mycotoxins, especially carcinogenic aflatoxins (AFs), AFs B-1-and-M-1, are common contaminants of foodchains, damaging exposed hosts. We analyzed the effects of naturally-occurring levels of AFB(1)-and-AFM(1) on the rat pancreatic islets from various healthy rats and exposed for 24 and 48 h to 10-20 ng of each AF/mL. The exposed islets were analyzed for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), ATP content, caspase-3/7-and 9 and ROS load. This environmental toxic compound impaired islet cells quality, GSIS, ATP-and antioxidant capacity, proving sensitivity of pancreatic islets to AFs (moreso to AFB(1)), thereby clarifying the possible underlying mechanisms of AFs in endocrine disorders, primarily type-2 diabetes.