Cytogenetic effect of zearalenone on pregnant rats and their progeny

The present study is concerned with the cytogenetic hazards induced by the mycotoxin, zearalenone [ZEN], Mycotoxin was administered orally to pregnant rats in two doses [15 or 30 mg/kg body weight] through days 6-13 of gestation. Cytogenetic evaluation was carried out by the micronucleus test and chromosomal aberration assay on the bone marrow cells of the pregnant females. In addition, chromosomal aberration assay was performed on the embryonic cells. Results showed that ZEN has a mutagenic effect. Significant high percentage of structural chromosomal aberrations was observed in ZEN treated mothers [15 mg/kg] and in their embryonic cells. On the other hand, numerical aberrations in the form of hypodiploidy and hyperdiploidy were also observed at a considerable percentage. Duplication of the dose [30 mg/kg] was found to be more hazardous. In general, the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in fetal cells was always higher than that recorded in their maternal bone marrow cells. In addition, ZEN treatment significantly increased the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic in the bone marrow cells of the pregnant rats. This elevation was in a dose related manner

rate of sister chromatid exchanges among females from the local environment

Sister chromatid exchanges were studied in cultured lymphocytes from ten normal healthy females. 5-bromodeoxyuridine was added at a final concentration of 30 ug/ml at the beginning of the culture time. Hoechst-Giemsa technique was used in the chromosomal preparations. The mean of SCE frequency was 4.01/metaphase +/- 1.34 and a range of 0-18. The present study revealed the predominance of exchanges between sister chromatids among chromosomes of groups A, B and C