[Mechanism of action of mycotoxins].

The present paper is an attempt to review the hypotheses concerning the mechanism of the physiopathological effects induced by mycotoxins, in particular by the aflatoxins and PR toxin. We shall first examine to what extent the alterations produced on some metabolic pathways (transcription, translation) can explain the short terme toxic effects. The problem of the long term effects of aflatoxin B1, i.e. the hepatocarcinogenic effects, will be discussed taking into account the results concerning the action of the mycotoxin on DNA and DNA repair.