Objective. To study the effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) on the liver in male mice.Methods. DON being administered by intraperitoneal injection (8.8 and 17.5 mg/kg b. w.). Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus gasseri were also administered to investigate their protective activity against DON-induced hepatic damage in mice. Results. It was observed that, serum ALT, AST, and ALP levels were significantly increased in DON-treated mice as compared with those in the control group (P <0.05). When mice were treated with DON and L. reuteri or L. gasseri, significant reduction was noticed in serum AST, ALT and ALP at P <0.05 as compared to DON treated group. Liver sections of mice received DON showed severe degeneration of the parenchyma; the hepatocyte plates were disrupted, the cells were swollen and vacuolated, and some signs of fatty degeneration were observed. Administration of oral doses of Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus gasseri for seven consecutive days followed by a single dose of DON (8.8 and 17.5 mg/kg b.w.) respectively revealed that liver has still its normal structure, except for the development of focal necrosis in case of using Lactobacillus reuteri. Conclusion. The present study indicates that probiotics bacteria, Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus gasseri, could play a
protective role against the hepatotoxic effects induced in the liver by DON.