title: The effect of experimental exposure to low doses of zearalenone on uterine histology and morphometry in prepubertal bitches.
abstract: The experiment involved 30 clinically healthy prepubertal bitches aged approximately 70 days with an estimated initial body weight (BW) of 8 kg. The animals were randomly divided into two experimental groups (EI and EII) and a control group of 10 animals each. Group EI was administered 50 μg zearalenone (ZEN)/kg BW per os for 42 days, group EII received 75 μg zearalenone/kg BW per os for 42 days, and the control group was administered placebo per os for 42 days. The bitches were hysterectomized at the end of treatment, and samples of uterine tissue were collected for histological and morphometric analyses. The results of the study indicate that exposure to very low doses of ZEN (100% and 150% of the NOAEL) causes simple glandular hyperplasia of the endometrium accompanied by adenogenesis, angiogenesis, and vasodilatation with the related consequences. The noted changes were more pronounced in group EI and less visible in group EII in comparison with group C, which could be indicative of a hormetic dose response.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Clinic, Ewa Stopa, DVM, Dąbrowskiego, Iława, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stopa
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego, Olsztyn, Poland. Electronic address: mgaja@uwm.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gajęcka
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Forensic Veterinary Medicine and Administration, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Izabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Babińska
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zielonka
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Prevention and Feed Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gajęcki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D015025:Zearalenone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D015025:Zearalenone
keywords: Histology; Morphometry; Prepubertal bitches; Uterus; Zearalenone