EXPOSURE OF GILTS TO HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF ZEARALENONE DURING LATE PREGNANCY AND LACTATION: 2. EFFECTS ON PARENCHYMATOUS ORGANS, AND HAEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMINCAL PARAMETERS

摘要

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin that binds to the oestrogen receptor and exerts oestrogen-like activity. In female pigs, ZEA is usually associated with reproductive disorders. However, consumption of a diet contaminated with DON and ZEA affected morphology and function of parenchymatous organs such as spleen, liver and kidney as well as metabolic and immunologic parameters (1,2). Even though these effects were rather attributed to DON, the contribution of ZEA is less defined. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of high concentrations of ZEA given to gilts during late pregnancy and lactation on the liver and kidney, as well as some haematological and biochemical parameters.