title: Effect of dietary alfalfa on zearalenone toxicity and metabolism in rats and swine.
abstract: Experiments were conducted with rats and swine to determine the potential of dietary alfalfa as a treatment for zearalenone (Z) toxicosis. Ninety-six female weanling Wistar rats were fed a casein-based semipurified diet containing 0, 15 or 25% alfalfa and 0 or 250 micrograms Z/g feed. Exposure to Z for 14 d resulted in reduced growth, feed consumption and feed efficiency as well as kidney and liver enlargement and reduced activity of 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 alpha-HSD). Z had no effect on uterine weight. Including alfalfa in these diets reduced the inhibitory effects of Z on growth and feed consumption, minimized Z-induced liver enlargement and increased hepatic 3 alpha-HSD activity. Dietary alfalfa also reduced concentrations of residual Z and zearalenols (Zl) in liver. In a second experiment, 108 Yorkshire gilts weighing 8 to 11 kg were fed diets containing 0, 15 or 25% alfalfa and 0, 10, 20 or 40 micrograms Z/g feed for 4 wk. Z caused uterine enlargement when fed as low as 10 micrograms/g feed, although no effects were seen in growth rate, feed consumption or feed efficiency. Alfalfa decreased uterine enlargement (P less than .05), but caused a depression in feed efficiency (P less than .05). Hepatic 3 alpha-HSD activity was five times lower in swine than in rats, although activity still tended to decrease with Z and increase with alfalfa feeding. Residues of Z and Zl in pig liver indicated species differences in the metabolism of Z. These studies show that dietary alfalfa promotes Z metabolism in rats and that this feedstuff may also be useful for treating Z toxicosis in livestock.
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D045002:3-alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (B-Specific); D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D000455:Medicago sativa; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000378:metabolism*; D012118:Resorcinols / Q000633:toxicity*; D013552:Swine / Q000378:metabolism*; D015025:Zearalenone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D012118:Resorcinols; D015025:Zearalenone; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D045002:3-alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (B-Specific)