title: Multigenerational exposure to dietary zearalenone (ZEA), an estrogenic mycotoxin, affects puberty and reproduction in female mice.
abstract: This study investigated potential cumulative effects of multiple pregnancy and multigenerational exposure to dietary ZEA (0, 0.8, 4, or 20ppm) on female puberty and reproduction in C57BL/6J mice. Multiple pregnancies did not significantly affect litter size or offspring puberty. Significant effects were observed in 20ppm ZEA-treated females: advanced puberty onset in F0, F1, and F2 generations; decreased implantation rate, pregnancy rate, and litter size, and increased pregnancy gap and gestation period in F1 and F2 generations; and reduced fertility index in F2 generation. F3 females from 0 and 20ppm groups were split into 0 or 20ppm ZEA diets at weaning, with advanced puberty onset seen in 0-20 and 20-20 groups and decreased implantation rate observed in 20-20 group. In summary, 20ppm dietary ZEA advanced puberty onset without obvious cumulative effect and impaired fertility with multigenerational cumulative effect, which could be partially alleviated upon exposure cessation.
authors: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Electronic address: feizhao@uga.edu.
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Electronic address: lirong9@uga.edu.
authors: Rong
authors: R
authors: Li
authors: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Electronic address: shuoxiao@northwestern.edu.
authors: Shuo
authors: S
authors: Xiao
authors: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Electronic address: hldiao1976@gmail.com.
authors: Honglu
authors: H
authors: Diao
authors: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Electronic address: ahmdezat@uga.edu.
authors: Ahmed E
authors: AE
authors: El Zowalaty
authors: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Electronic address: ye@uga.edu.
authors: Xiaoqin
authors: X
authors: Ye
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004967:Estrogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D008098:Litter Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015025:Zearalenone / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D015025:Zearalenone
keywords: Embryo implantation; Female reproduction; Litter size; Multigeneration; Multipregnancy; Vaginal opening; Zearalenone