Effect of low-dose zearalenone exposure on luteal function, follicular activity and uterine oedema in cycling mares.
Abstract: The effect of 10-day zearalenone administration starting 10 days after ovulation was studied in 6 cycling trotter mares in the summer period. After an entire oestrous cycle (Cycle 1), mares were given 7 mg purified zearalenone per os daily (1 mg/ml in ethyl alcohol) beginning on Day 10 of Cycle 2. Toxin exposure was continued until the subsequent ovulation. Luteal function and follicular activity were monitored daily by rectal palpation, ultrasonography and blood sampling for progesterone. During toxin exposure, all animals were in good physical condition. The toxin had no effect on the length of the interovulatory intervals, luteal and follicular phases. It did not influence significantly the plasma progesterone profiles (logistic curve parameters A1 to A6), the follicular activity (growth rate, maximum size of the ovulatory follicles, maximum number and the time of first increase in the number of large follicles) and the uterine oedema. It is concluded that in cyclic mares the methods used in this study could not detect any adverse effect of zearalenone (administered at a low dose similar to natural exposure) on reproduction.
Publication Date: 2001-06-14 PubMed ID: 11402650DOI: 10.1556/004.49.2001.2.11Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research examines the impact of zearalenone, a fungal toxin, on the reproductive system of female horses. The study found that exposure to low-dose zearalenone had no noticeable adverse effects on the reproductive function of the mares studied.
Method
- Six cycling trotter mares were studied over the summer. The research started 10 days after the horses had ovulated, which marked the start of a new ovulatory cycle, referred to as Cycle 1.
- During the second ovulatory cycle (Cycle 2), the mares were given 7mg of purified zearalenone orally each day. This dose was delivered via an ethanol solution.
- Zearalenone administration was continued through to the next ovulation.
- The researchers assessed luteal function and follicular activity daily. This was done with rectal palpations, ultrasonography, and blood sampling to measure progesterone levels.
Results
- Despite the exposure to the zearalenone toxin, all mares remained in good physical condition throughout the study.
- The toxin did not affect the length of the interovulatory intervals, nor the luteal and follicular phases, indicating no disruption to the normal ovulatory cycle.
- Zearalenone exposure did not significantly alter the plasma progesterone profiles, a key marker of reproductive health in mares.
- The toxin also did not influence the growth rate, maximum size of ovulatory follicles, or the maximum number and timing of the increase in large follicles. These markers indicate normal follicular activity, which is crucial for successful ovulation and potential pregnancy.
- No apparent effect on uterine edema, a condition that can indicate pathology or disruption to the normal reproductive system, was observed.
Conclusion
- The study concludes that there was no detectable adverse effect of low-dose zearalenone on the reproductive function of cycling mares, according to the methods used in the research.
- This suggests that exposure to natural levels of zearalenone may not pose significant risk to the reproductive health of mares.
Cite This Article
APA
Juhász J, Nagy P, Kulcsár M, Szigeti G, Reiczigel J, Huszenicza G.
(2001).
Effect of low-dose zearalenone exposure on luteal function, follicular activity and uterine oedema in cycling mares.
Acta Vet Hung, 49(2), 211-222.
https://doi.org/10.1556/004.49.2001.2.11 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Research Institute, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, H-1400 Budapest, P.O. Box 2, Hungary. gyhuszen@univet.hu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Body Temperature
- Corpus Luteum / diagnostic imaging
- Corpus Luteum / drug effects
- Corpus Luteum / physiology
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Edema / chemically induced
- Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / administration & dosage
- Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / toxicity
- Estrus / drug effects
- Estrus / physiology
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Ovarian Follicle / diagnostic imaging
- Ovarian Follicle / drug effects
- Ovarian Follicle / physiology
- Progesterone / blood
- Ultrasonography
- Uterine Diseases / chemically induced
- Uterus / drug effects
- Zearalenone / administration & dosage
- Zearalenone / toxicity
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Knutsen HK, Alexander J, Barregård L, Bignami M, Brüschweiler B, Ceccatelli S, Cottrill B, Dinovi M, Edler L, Grasl-Kraupp B, Hogstrand C, Hoogenboom LR, Nebbia CS, Petersen A, Rose M, Roudot AC, Schwerdtle T, Vleminckx C, Vollmer G, Wallace H, Dall'Asta C, Dänicke S, Eriksen GS, Altieri A, Roldán-Torres R, Oswald IP. Risks for animal health related to the presence of zearalenone and its modified forms in feed. EFSA J 2017 Jul;15(7):e04851.
- Vance CK, King EH, Bowers SD, Ryan PL, Walters K, Shappell NW. Reproductive Performance of Mares Fed Dietary Zearalenone. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:423.
- Zhang GL, Feng YL, Song JL, Zhou XS. Zearalenone: A Mycotoxin With Different Toxic Effect in Domestic and Laboratory Animals' Granulosa Cells. Front Genet 2018;9:667.
- Zhang GL, Song JL, Ji CL, Feng YL, Yu J, Nyachoti CM, Yang GS. Zearalenone Exposure Enhanced the Expression of Tumorigenesis Genes in Donkey Granulosa Cells via the PTEN/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway. Front Genet 2018;9:293.
- Schumann B, Winkler J, Mickenautsch N, Warnken T, Dänicke S. Effects of deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), and related metabolites on equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in vitro and background occurrence of these toxins in horses. Mycotoxin Res 2016 Aug;32(3):153-61.
- Minervini F, Dell'Aquila ME. Zearalenone and reproductive function in farm animals. Int J Mol Sci 2008 Dec;9(12):2570-2584.
- Minervini F, Giannoccaro A, Fornelli F, Dell'Aquila ME, Minoia P, Visconti A. Influence of mycotoxin zearalenone and its derivatives (alpha and beta zearalenol) on apoptosis and proliferation of cultured granulosa cells from equine ovaries. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2006 Nov 30;4:62.
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