Effect of dietary zearalenone on the performance, reproduction tract and serum biochemistry in young rats

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the toxic dose response of a chronic dietary Zearalenone (ZEA) in weaned young rats. Sixty, 21-day-old, Sprague Dawley female rats were randomly allocated to five groups of four replicate cages containing three rats. Rats were fed diets with increasing amounts of ZEA (0, 0.5, 0.9, 1.8 and 3.6 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. Daily feed intake was reduced (P < .05) by feeding the ZEA diets with 0.9 and 3.6 mg ZEA/kg feed. Rats fed the diet containing 1.8 mg ZEA/kg increased (P < .05) the body weight gain (BWG) and reduced (P < .05) feed conversion rate (FCR) as compared to the control group. The two highest levels of dietary ZEA also increased (P < .05) the weight of the uterus. However, ovaries' weight, timing of vaginal opening and the inter-oestrous interval were not affected by increasing the doses of dietary ZEA (P > .05). Similarly, serum concentrations of total protein, follicle-stimulating hormone and alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphate activities were not altered by the ZEA treatments. In conclusion, our results indicated that a chronic dietary consumption of ZEA at concentrations of 1.8 mg ZEA/kg increases the BWG and the uterus weight of weaning female rats.

Obesity alters the ovarian proteomic response to zearalenone exposure

“…Further, another finding of decreased body weight in mice exposed to DON, was ameliorated by addition of dietary ZEN (10 mg/kg of ZEN + 5 mg/kg of DON) [ 67 ]. In contrast to all of these findings, is a study in which ZEN (1.8 mg/kg) exposure increased body weight in exposed rats [ 70 ].…”

Zearalenone and the Immune Response

“…8 weeks [115] No effect on spleen weight Sprague Dawley rats 0.5, 0.9, 1.8, 3.6 mg/kg b.w. 4 weeks [116] No effect on spleen weight BALB/c mice female, 7-weeks-old 5, 20 mg/kg b.w. 14 days [38] No effect on spleen weight White Leghorn female chickens, 2-weeks-old 50, 200, 400, 800 mg/kg b.w.…”

Fusarium Molds and Mycotoxins: Potential Species-Specific Effects

“…It is already well established that ZEA and its metabolites have strong estrogenic activities, being able to cause alteration in the reproductive tract [ 13 , 122 , 123 ] acting as an endocrine disruptor. In particular, ZEA can induce estrogenic effects such as hyperestrogenism, anoestrus, ovarian atrophy and changes in the endometrium [ 122 , 124 , 125 ].…”