The effect of fungal toxins on the sexual behaviour of rabbits.
Feeding rabbits with mycelium from Fusarium roseum is shown to produce infertility, the disappearance of aggressivity, and homosexual behaviour in males, while the effect of the females is only infertility. This mycelium contains the mycotoxin zearalenon which has effects similar to those of the female hormone. This fungus willingly grows on common crops and is consumed both by people and animals-although normally in very low doses. It cannot be ruled out that an increased growth of fungus, due to artificial fertilization, which then can be demonstrated to be found in food and consumed, can be a factor which increases the incidence of homosexual behavior in people.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005670:Fusarium; D007246:Infertility / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012118:Resorcinols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D015025:Zearalenone / Q000494:pharmacology*
D012118:Resorcinols; D015025:Zearalenone