Adverse biological effects of the mycotoxin zearalenone in mammals: a review

Summary The authors present their study on the summarized effects of zearalenone (ZEA) on the mammalian neuroendocrine system. Oestrogen and oestrogen receptors play a key role in mammalian physiology. Endocrine disruptors, such as ZEA have the ability to interfere with hormonal regulatory pathways due to their oestrogenlike molecular structure. The aim of the present review is to discuss the best known effects of ZEA poisoning. ZEA is a well-known mycotoxin, usually found in contaminated unprocessed maize and other cereal kernel. The contamination begins at the growing area, however it can also spread during improper storage, causing a contamination in the feed. This is still a serious problem in animal husbandry and in the industrial production of meat. After ingestion, the toxin can easily get into the body. ZEA can directly induce apoptosis, thus causing cell loss in specific organs (mostly in the liver and the immune system) resulting in a decreased, weakened function. In addition to the cellular effects, ZEA also acts as endocrine disruptor, it alters the physiological neuroendocrine regulation, thus disrupting the physiological action of the organs requiring oestrogen modulation. ZEA has a serious impact on the production of the cellular components of the blood; the quality, and cellular quantity of the immune response; the homeostasis and the functions during detoxification of the liver and kidneys; the neuroendocrine organ functions (disrupting the regulative characteristics of specific parts of the hormonal milieu in the animals) and even on the central nervous system. Most importantly ZEA can interfere with the reproductive physiology of animals (due to the disruption on the neuroendocrine regulation), thus lowering the possible productivity of the livestock, causing major economic losses.