Effect of Purified Zearalenone on Early Gestation in Gilts2

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Purified zearalenone (Z) was added to the diet of gilts from d 2 to 15 postmating. Gilts received either 0, 5, 15, 30, 60 or 90 ppm Z (three to five gilts per dose) in 1.8 kg of feed daily. Serum concentrations of progesterone and estradiol-17β were determined weekly. On d 13 to 15 and 40 to 43 postmating, blood samples were drawn from a cannula at 20 min intervals for 4 h and analyzed for luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL). Gilts were killed 40 to 43 d postmating and embryonic develbpment was assessed. Treatment with 5, 15 or 30 ppm Z had no effect on embryonic development when compared with 0 ppm. No fetuses were present in gilts fed 60 to 90 ppm Z, but two gilts given 60 ppm Z had remnants of fetal membranes in the uterus. The histologic appearance of reproductive tract tissues from the gilts given 60 ppm Z was similar to that from pregnant gilts. Tissues from gilts given 90 ppm Z appeared to be stimulated by both estrogen and progesterone. Serum concentrations of progesterone were decreased at 2, 3 and 6 wk postbreeding in gilts fed 60 and 90 ppm Z. Serum concentrations of estradiol-estradiol-17β were decreased at 4 wk postbreeding in gilts fed 60 and 90 ppm Z. No differences (P>.05) were noted in the number of secretory spikes of LH, FSH, or PRL among treatment groups either during the feeding of Z (d 13 to 15 postmating) or at the termination of the experiment (d 40 to 43 postmating). These data indicate that ingestion of high concentrations of purified zearalenone by pregnant gilts on d 2 to 15 postmating interferes with embryonic development. This effect occurred in the absence of obvious changes in the secretory pattern of LH, FSL, or PRL, but was associated with retention of corpora lutea and changes in serum concentrations of progesterone and estradiol-17β. Copyright © 1984. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1984 by American Society of Animal Science