zearalenone and Fetal-Death

Topics: Aflatoxins; Animals; Animals, Domestic; Canada; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Chickens; Citrinin; Female; Fetal Death; Kidney Diseases; Male; Mycotoxins; Ochratoxins; Patulin; Penicillic Acid; Poultry Diseases; Pregnancy; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Swine; Swine Diseases; Trichothecenes; Vulvovaginitis; Zearalenone

Zearalenone (ZE), an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by Fusarium graminearum or F. roseum, is one of the most common contaminants of cereal grains world-wide. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of ZE on in utero development of rats. Pregnant female Charles River Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged once daily with ZE (in corn oil) at doses of 0, 1, 2, 4, or 8 mg/kg body weight on gestation days (GD) 6-19. All females survived to cesarean section on GD 20. At cesarean section, reproductive and developmental parameters were measured and blood was taken for hormone analysis. Dose-related decreases were seen in maternal feed consumption and body weight gain in all treated groups. Delayed fetal development was linked to maternal toxicity. Fetal body weight was significantly decreased in both sexes in all treated groups. ZE retarded skeletal ossification at 4 and 8 mg/kg. Fetal anogenital index (anogenital distance normalized for body weight) was increased in all treated groups, indicating an androgenic effect of ZE during fetal development. Fetal viability was significantly decreased at 8 mg/kg; significant decreases were observed in number of viable fetuses, and number of litters totally resorbed. At 4 and 8 mg/kg, maternal liver-body weight ratios were significantly increased and organ-brain weight ratios for weights of liver, heart, spleen, kidneys, and ovaries were significantly decreased. Gonadotropins (LH, FSH, and prolactin) and sex steroids (progesterone and estradiol) were analyzed from the blood serum obtained at cesarean section. LH in the 0, 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg groups showed minimal variation, and slightly increased at 8 mg/kg. FSH was decreased in the 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg groups, but the level at 8 mg/kg was slightly higher than the control level. Prolactin level was not affected at 1 mg/kg, slightly increased at 2 and 4 mg/kg, and significantly increased at 8 mg/kg. Progesterone was decreased at 2, 4, and 8 mg/kg and the decreases were significant at 2 and 4 mg/kg. Estradiol level was not affected at 1mg/kg, but dose-related decreases were observed at 2, 4, and 8 mg/kg. Only the 8 mg/kg level of estradiol was significantly decreased. In summary, ZE was maternally toxic and fetotoxic but not teratogenic. The increased anogenital distance observed in male and female fetuses was considered a hormonal change rather than a teratologic response. The increased anogenital distance indicated an androgenic effect. Based on the dose-related mater

Topics: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; Administration, Oral; Animals; Bone Development; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Embryonic Development; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; Female; Fetal Death; Fetal Development; Fetal Weight; Genitalia; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Gonadotropins, Pituitary; Male; Maternal Exposure; No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; Organ Size; Pregnancy; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reproduction; Sexual Maturation; Zearalenone

Topics: Abortion, Veterinary; Animal Feed; Animals; Cohort Studies; Female; Fetal Death; Food Contamination; Infertility; Litter Size; Mycotoxins; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Swine; Swine Diseases; Trichothecenes; Zearalenone

Topics: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; Aflatoxin B1; Aflatoxins; Animals; Female; Fetal Death; Fetus; Mice; Mice, Inbred CBA; Ochratoxins; Pregnancy; Resorcinols; Zearalenone