Hypoglycemia in mice administered with fusarenon-X.

Histological observation combined with determination of the serum glucose level and histochemical detection of liver glycogen was undertaken to examine the acute toxicity of fusarenon-X (FX) in mice. Mice intraperitoneally injected with a sublethal dose of the toxin showed rapidly developed hypoglycemia followed by depletion of liver glycogen. Mitotic inhibition was observed in many visceral organs and most markedly in the intestinal crypt cells, where the mitotic figures completely disappeared prior to the increase in number of the degenerated and nucrotic cells. No glycosuria was found. The disturbing effect of FX on the oral glucose tolerance test suggested the involvement of accelerated glycolysis and, more likely, of intestinal malabsorption.