Reproductive alterations in female C57BL/Crgl mice exposed neonatally to zearalenone, an estrogenic mycotoxin.
Newborn female mice were injected daily for 5 days with 1 microgram zearalenone (Z, a weakly estrogenic mycotoxin present in cereal grains), resulting in ovary-dependent reproductive tract alterations at 8 months of age. Corpora lutea were absent from 25 of 34 (74%) Z-treated mice, indicating ovarian dysfunction. Fifty-six percent of Z-treated mice had dense collagen deposition in the uterine stroma and lacked uterine glands. Squamous metaplasia of the uterine luminal epithelium was found in 59% of Z-treated mice, and altered vaginal epithelium was found in 32% (2 mice had dysplastic lesions). Ovariectomized Z-treated mice were indistinguishable from ovariectomized controls.
Williams
B A
BA
Department of Zoology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
Mills
K T
KT
Burroughs
C D
CD
Bern
H A
HA
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010053:Ovary / Q000473:pathology; D012118:Resorcinols / Q000633:toxicity*; D014599:Uterus / Q000473:pathology; D014621:Vagina / Q000473:pathology; D015025:Zearalenone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*
D009183:Mycotoxins; D012118:Resorcinols; D015025:Zearalenone