Effects of zearalenone in prepubertal gilts

Teixeira L.C., Montiani-Ferreira F., Locatelli-Dittrich R., Santin E. & Alberton G.C. 2011. Effects of zearalenone in prepubertal gilts. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 31(8):656-662. Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Ciencias Veterinarias, Setor de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidade Federal de Parana, Rua dos Funcionarios 1540, Bairro Cabral, Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil. E-mail: leticia.cteixeira@yahoo.com.br Prepubertal gilts were fed with a diet containing zearalenone (ZEA) in a concentration of 0.75 mg/kg for 21 days. The effects of this mycotoxin on morphologic aspects of the reproductive tract as well as on complete blood count (CBC), serum biochemistry analysis (SBA) and humoral immune response against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were evaluated. There was a significant increase (P<0.05) on the reproductive tract weight, vulvar area, height of the epithelial cells of endometrial glands and uterine mucosa. These results showed the ability of this nonsteroidal mycotoxin in mimicking actions of 17 beta estradiol at the concentration of 0.75mg/kg. No changes in weight gain, CBC, SBA parameters and humoral response against SRBC were observed.