The mycotoxin patulin increases colonic epithelial permeability in vitro

► Sheets of mucosa and epithelial monolayers were used to examine functional effects of patulin. ► Patulin increased epithelial permeability and also inhibited ion transport. ► Exposure to patulin evoked structural damage in intact tissues. ► Patulin's actions results from cytotoxicity as evidenced by high content analysis.