The in vitro effects of four Fusarium toxins, fumonisin B1 (FB1), a-zearalenol (a-ZEA), nivalenol
(NIV) and deoxynivalenol (DON), on mitogen-induced cell proliferation were determined
in swine whole-blood cultures. Considering the lack of sufficient toxicological
data both on single and in combination effects, in vitro studies may contribute to risk assessment
of these toxins. Incubation with increasing concentrations of FB1 did not produce
any consequence on proliferation; in contrast a-ZEA, NIV and DON showed an inhibitory
effect. Dose–response curves for each mycotoxin were generated. NIV was found to be
the most potent toxin followed by DON and a-ZEA. The effects of both FB1 þ a-ZEA and
NIVþ DON mixtures were also analysed to investigate possible interactions. The results indicated
that combination of FB1þ a-ZEA produces a synergistic inhibition of porcine cell
proliferation; whereas there is no interaction between DON and NIV on porcine wholeblood
proliferation, at tested concentrations.