Mycotoxin alpha-zearalenol impairs the quality of preimplantation porcine embryos

J Reprod Dev. 2012;58(3):338-43. doi: 10.1262/jrd.11-113h. Epub 2012 Mar 9.

Abstract

Alpha-Zearalenol (α-ZEA) is one of derivatives from Zearalenone (ZEA) which impacts mammalian reproduction and development. Previous studies have shown that pigs are sensitive to the estradiol-like effects of α-ZEA. However, the effect of α-ZEA for the early embryonic development has not been fully studied. The objective of this study was to identify the direct toxicity of α-ZEA on porcine preimplantation embryonic development, embryo quality and expression of developmentally important genes. Presumptive zygotes were cultured in porcine zygote medium 3 (PZM-3) in the presence of α-ZEA (n=2,957) or 17β-estradiol (E2) (n=1,333) dissolved in 0.1% Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) from 24 to 84 h post insemination followed by determination of apoptotic cell numbers and transcript levels of BAX, BCL2L1 and POU5F1 in blastocysts. Cleavage rates on day 2 were significantly decreased in 10, 30 and 60 µM α-ZEA groups; whereas blastocyst rates on day 6 were significantly decreased in the 30 and 60 µM of α-ZEA groups. Only the 100 µM E2 group significantly decreased cleavage and blastocyst rates. Total cell numbers (TCN) in blastocysts were significantly lower in the 10 µM α-ZEA group, but no differences in apoptotic cell rates were found. The expression levels of POU5F1 and BCL2L1 transcripts were similar; however, levels of BAX transcripts and the BAX/BCL2L1 ratio were increased in both α-ZEA groups. Since α-ZEA and E2 did not elicit similar effects, results suggest that α-ZEA might impact porcine preimplantation embryonic development through pathways other than estrogen receptor binding.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Blastocyst / cytology
  • Blastocyst / drug effects*
  • Estradiol / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Male
  • Mycotoxins / metabolism*
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / metabolism
  • Oocytes / cytology
  • Reproductive Techniques, Assisted*
  • Swine
  • Zeranol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Zeranol / pharmacology
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism
  • bcl-X Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Mycotoxins
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • bcl-X Protein
  • zearalenol
  • Estradiol
  • Zeranol