title: Fusarium mycotoxins: effects on reproductive function in domestic animals--a review.
abstract: On a global scale, cereal grains and animal feed may be contaminated with trichothecenes, such as deoxynivalenol and T-2 toxin, zearalenone (ZEA), and fumonisins, the major mycotoxins of Fusarium fungi. Of these mycotoxins, ZEA is unequivocally implicated in reproductive disorders of swine and other domestic animals. Experiments in vivo and in vitro indicate that ZEA and its metabolites exert estrogenic effects resulting in functional and morphological alterations in reproductive organs. Recently, the potential of trichothecenes and fumonisins to cause reproductive disorders in domestic animals has been investigated. The present review summarizes the toxicological data on the effects of Fusarium mycotoxins on ovarian function, testicular function, placenta and fetus, and puberty/sexual maturity of domestic animals. The results of in vivo animal studies and in vitro tests are reported and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cortinovis
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pizzo
authors.forename: Leon J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Spicer
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caloni
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005670:Fusarium / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000506:poisoning*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D009183:Mycotoxins
keywords: Domestic animals; Fusarium mycotoxins; Reproductive toxicity