Effect of dietary zearalenone on the performance, reproduction tract and serum biochemistry in young rats

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the toxic dose response of a chronic dietary Zearalenone (ZEA) in weaned young rats. Sixty, 21-day-old, Sprague Dawley female rats were randomly allocated to five groups of four replicate cages containing three rats. Rats were fed diets with increasing amounts of ZEA (0, 0.5, 0.9, 1.8 and 3.6 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. Daily feed intake was reduced (P .05). Similarly, serum concentrations of total protein, follicle-stimulating hormone and alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphate activities were not altered by the ZEA treatments. In conclusion, our results indicated that a chronic dietary consumption of ZEA at concentrations of 1.8 mg ZEA/kg increases the BWG and the uterus weight of weaning female rats.