Toxicity of zearalenone on the intestines of pregnant sows and their offspring and alleviation with modified halloysite nanotubes

BACKGROUNDThe objective of this study was to examine the effects of maternal exposure to zearalenone (ZEN) on the intestines of pregnant sows and offspring on postnatal days (PD) 1, 21 and 188. Eighteen pregnant sows (six per treatment) were fed a control diet (ZEN, 0.03mg kg(-1)), ZEN diet (ZEN, 2.77mg kg(-1)) and ZEN+1% modified halloysite nanotube (MHNT) diet (ZEN, 2.76mg kg(-1)) respectively from gestation days (GD) 35 to 70. At the end of the experiment, three sows of each group on GD70 and the offspring on PD1, PD21 and PD188 were killed to analyze the changes of intestines. RESULTSThe results showed that ZEN caused oxidative stress, an inflammatory response, changes in the structure of jejunum and alterations of the bacterial numbers in cecal digesta in pregnant sows and PD1 and PD21 piglets. On PD188, bacterial numbers were also altered. MHNTs supplementation reduced the amount of ZEN in the intestine and reversed to a large extent the effects induced by ZEN on the intestines of pregnant sows and offspring. CONCLUSIONThe results obtained from this study indicated that MHNTs treatment was beneficial for the adsorption of ZEN in the intestine of sows. (c) 2017 Society of Chemical Industry