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. 2008 Dec;9(12):2570-2584.
doi: 10.3390/ijms9122570. Epub 2008 Dec 11.

Zearalenone and reproductive function in farm animals

Fiorenza Minervini  1 , Maria Elena Dell'Aquila  2
Affiliations

Zearalenone and reproductive function in farm animals

Fiorenza Minervini et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2008 Dec.

Abstract

Farm animals are exposed to zearalenone through the feed because of the widespread occurrence of this mycotoxin in cereals and clinical reproductive disorders due to mycotoxin effects are often reported in farm animal species. This review describes the metabolism, the mechanistic aspects, the clinical reproductive symptoms and the in vitro effects on functional parameters of oocytes and sperm cells induced by zearalenone and its derivatives in farm animals. The studies on in vitro effects allow to understand the action mechanisms of mycotoxins and, sometime, to explain the in vivo symptoms. The impairment of semen quality and female reproductive function induced by zearalenone could be a factor responsible for the reproductive failure in farm animals.

Keywords: Zearalenone and its derivatives; farm animals; in vitro; in vivo.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Chemical structures of zearalenone and its derivatives: a) zearalenone (ZEA), b) α-zearalenol (α-ZOL), c) β-zearalenol (β-ZOL), d) zearalanone (ZAN), e) α-zearalanol (α-ZAL), f) β-zearalanol (β-ZAL) [1].
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Biochemical pathway from cholesterol to steroid hormones.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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