Efficacy of activated diatomaceous clay in reducing the toxicity of zearalenone in rats and piglets1

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of an activated diatomaceous clay (ADC) in reducing the toxic effects of zearalenone (ZEA) in the diet of rats and piglets. In the rat experiment, 90 Sprague-Dawley female weanling rats with an initial BW of 45 ± 1.0 g were assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments for 28 d in a completely randomized design (CRD) with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (0 or 6 mg ZEA/kg feed and 0, 1, and 5 g ADC/kg feed). In the piglet experiment, 64 female piglets ([Large White × Landrace] × Pietrain with an initial BW of 14.9 ± 1.65 kg) were fed 1 of 8 experimental diets for 26 d in a CRD design with a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement (0 or 0.8 mg ZEA/kg feed and 0, 1, 2, and 5 g ADC/kg feed). The ADFI, ADG, and G:F were determined at the end of each experiment. At the conclusion of studies, serum samples were collected and rats and piglets were euthanized to determine visceral organ weights. The diet contaminated with ZEA did not alter the growth of rats and the relative weight of liver and kidneys. However, ZEA increased ( < 0.05) the relative weight of uterus, ovaries, and spleen and decreased ( < 0.05) the serum activities of alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase compared to the control group. Supplementation of ADC in the rat diets counteracted ( < 0.05) the observed toxic effects of ZEA on the uterus and ovaries weight. The diet contaminated with ZEA (0.8 mg/kg feed) increased ( < 0.05) the weight of the uterus and ovaries in piglets but did not modify the serum biochemical variables or the relative weight of other visceral organs. The addition of 5 g ADC/kg to the contaminated feed reduced the toxic effects of ZEA on uterus and ovary weights to that of the control group. Zearalenone (10.5 μg/kg bile) and α-zearalenol (5.6 μg/kg bile) residues were detected in the bile of piglets fed the ZEA treatment. Supplementation of ADC to diets contaminated with ZEA reduced ( = 0.001) ZEA content in bile compared to the ZEA treatments. The results of these experiments indicate that a long-term consumption of ZEA-contaminated diets stimulated growth of the reproductive tract in rats and piglets and the presence of ZEA residue in bile in piglets. These effects may be counteracted by the addition of ADC to the diet.

In Vitro Studies on Gastrointestinal Monogastric and Avian Models to Evaluate the Binding Efficacy of Mycotoxin adsorbents by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

“…By comparison, acidic and neutral conditions promote interaction between ZEN and yeast cell walls with more stable complexes than in alkaline conditions [38]. Consequently, modified clays with organic cations have been developed to improve ZEN adsorption, which provide sufficient space between the layers to react with mycotoxin with a relatively less polarity with the appropriate electrical charging [6,39–41]. These modified surface properties lead to greater hydrophobicity by exchanging the structural load balance cations with high molecular weight quaternary amines [10].…”

Comparative Analysis of Zearalenone Effects on Thyroid Receptor Alpha (TRα) and Beta (TRβ) Expression in Rat Primary Cerebellar Cell Cultures

“…Because of the cytotoxic effects of ZEN in the liver [ 60 ], ingestion of this endocrine disruptor (ED) should be considered as a threat to hepatic functions in humans as well. Although little or no report can be found from human studies, ZEN alters the level and activity of some liver enzymes (such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)) in the examined species, including rabbits [ 58 ], rats [ 59 , 61 ], and pigs [ 44 ]. In addition to the adverse effects of ZEN on liver functions, the metabolization of ZEN continues in the kidneys where it exerts further destructive effects.…”

“…ZEN, as most of the EDs, effects the reproductive system as well. These ED effects are broadly documented among the affected organ systems, and in this respect not only females but males are targets of ZEN (and other EDs) as well [ 61 , 64 , 65 ]. ZEN can penetrate through the blood brain barrier (like other EDs [ 66 ]), and modify hypothalamic and pituitary functions in all examined species.…”

Effect of Degradation of Zearalenone-Contaminated Feed by Bacillus licheniformis CK1 on Postweaning Female Piglets

“…Jiang et al reported that clay enterosorbent at the levels of 5 or 10 g/kg was able to reduce the estrogenic effect of ZEA on vulvar swelling in postweaning female pigs [25]. Moreover, Denli et al demonstrated that activated diatomaceous clay could effectively spare the estrogenic effect of ZEA on uterus and ovaries in rats and pigs [26]. The addition of a modified calcium montmorillonite alleviated some of the reproductive effects of ZEA on the relative weight of genital organs in postweaning piglets [24,27].…”