Knowledge of the fate of liver-toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) and their N-oxides (PANO) in livestock and the possible transfer to food of animal origin is currently incomplete for a reliable assessment of the risks of contamination of feed and for deriving risk management measures. Within the framework of this collaborative project, feeding studies in sheep, goats and cattle, among others, are carried out. The samples obtained from these trials such as animal tissues and organs, milk and other body fluids will be analysed for PA/PANO.
BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment is concerned with the analytical detection of PA/PANO and in particular their metabolites in samples from
in vivo feeding studies. In addition,
BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment is focusing on accompanying
in vitro studies on (a) ruminal metabolism, (b) tissue mobility during passage through the intestinal wall, and (c) hepatic metabolism in microsomes and cytochrome P450 preparations from liver cells.
The analysis of the samples is carried out at
BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment using modern methods (high-resolution mass spectrometry in combination with software-supported evaluation of the analysis data obtained), which enable sensitive and highly specific identification of metabolites with structural relationship to PA/PANO in the various samples of the
in vivo and
in vitro studies on the basis of extensive expertise.
The project goal related to the
BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment focus is to clarify the fate of the fed PA/PANO in the animal. In doing so, metabolic changes of PA/PANO have to be traced and balances have to be completed. Based on the data obtained, the assessment of risks for the health of farm animals and for the consumer, as a consumer of food of animal origin, will be improved.