Factors determining sensitivity of prepubertal gilts to hormonal influence of zearalenone.

Among large husbandry animals, swine are the most predisposed to zearalenone (ZEA) intoxication, mainly because cereal is an important component of their diet. Studies performed so far (in vivo, in vitro) suggest that ZEA and its metabolites, which may appear due to ZEA biotransformation (especially alpha-zearalenole; alpha-ZOL), can modify signaling cascades of endogenous sex steroids, through either receptor or non-receptor mechanisms. Of all age groups of swine, immature gilts are particularly predisposed to zearalenone intoxication, as manifested by the occurrence of genital tract tissue dysfunction on exposure to ZEA. The intensity of the adverse effects observed at either systemic or local level in gilts, when compared to sexually mature swine females, suggest that specific age-dependent physiological conditions may exist, which determine the high sensitivity of gilts to exogenous estrogen-like compounds, including ZEA.

The impact of zearalenone on the level of the selected estrogens in blood serum of sexually immature gilts.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of low dose (LOEL - lowest observed effect level) of zearalenone (200 microg/kg b.w.), applied per os for 7 days (short-term intoxication), on sexual behavior, concentration of the examined xenobiotic and its metabolite and selected estrogens in sexually immature gilts: ovariohysterectomised (group D1) and intact (group D2) animals. Clinical signs of oestrus (reddening, oedema and hyperaemia of the vulva and serorhoea from the reproductive tract--lack of standing reflex) were obserwed in group D1 on day 6 and in group D2 on day 4 of the experiment. Laboratory analyses of blood plasma were carried out determine the presence of zearalenone and alpha-zearalenole. They revealed an increase in the level of alpha-zearalenol before the oestrus, decrease in total amount of both examined substances on day when the oestrus appeared and increase in the level of both examined xenobiotics in the post oestrus period together with the higher share of zearalenone. Medium concentrations of estrone and estradiol within the borders of method determination in the majority of periods examined. Higher levels of estrone (32.0 pg/ml) were found on day 4, in the group D2 and estradiol (6.5 pg/ml) on day 6 in the D2 group. The presents study revealed that zearalenone applied per os at LOEL dose causes the incidence of apparent sexual readiness (without standing reflex) in sexually immature gilts with the somatically immature reproductive system.

Preliminary results of monitoring research on zearalenone presence in blood of women with neoplastic lesions in reproductive system.

The aim of the monitoring of zearalenone presence in the blood plasma of women with neoplastic lesions in the reproductive tract was to asses whether the phytosteride is noted in the patients blood and whether the correlation exists between its presence and the incidence of particular neoplasm. The presence of zearalenone or its metabolite--alpha-zearalenole, was noted in 13.51% of the examined women. In 60% of the patients with the confirmed presence of the xenobiotic it was noted in the lowest concentrations. These patients had neoplastic lesions of Carcinoma corpus uteri type.

[Formation of erythroid colonies of bone marrow cells and their sensitivity to erythropoietin (EP) (in vitro) in piglets during the early postnatal period]. / Tworzenie kolonii erytroidalnych szpiku kostnego oraz ich wrazliwosc na egzogenna erytropoetyne (Ep) (in vitro) u prosiat we wczesnym okresie postnatalnym.

Collected at the first hours (0, 6, 12, 24, 48) and days (3 and 5) of piglets life bone marrow was cultured (in vitro) during 48 and 72 hours in order to assess the efficiency of development and ability of isolated marrow cells to form erythroid colonies (CFU-E-Colony Forming Unit) and also to examine the erythroidal sensitivity to Ep addition. It was found that bone marrow of new born piglets shows high ability to form erythroid colonies (CFU-E), but low sensitivity to Ep (erythropoietin). The limited efficiency to form immature erythroid colonies following 12h as well as matured ones after 24h, has been also shown. Observed changes could be caused by the limited erythroidal cells sensitivity to Ep.