Avaliação da eficácia de aditivo anti-micotoxina através de análise morfométrica e histopatológica do trato reprodutivo de leitoas e de leitões pré-púberes experimentalmente intoxicados por zearalenona

Abstract

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin that causes a lot of problems in the reproductive tract, being related to the hyperestrogenism in gilts. Preventive measures to prevent fungal growth are not always effective, the use of anti- mycotoxin additives (AMA), which are added to food products, capable of adsorbing, or neutralizing biotransform mycotoxins, preventing the development of mycotoxicosis are required. The cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has become the focus of numerous studies and is used as AMA, because it has high binding capacity, and adsorption of mycotoxins. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of zearalenone on serum biochemical parameters and histopathological and morphometric parameters of the reproductive tract of pre-pubertal male and female piglets experimentally poisoned with different doses of this mycotoxin and to evaluate the effectiveness of the anti-mycotoxin additive made of yeast cell wall in the prevention of mycotoxicosis. The trial period had a total duration of 21 days. Eight pre-pubertal male piglets were used, whose diets presented four levels of ZEA (0.0, 0.25, 0.6 and 2.0 mg kg -1 or ppm). Histomorphometric analyzes of the testis length and width were performed. Histological measurements were also performed on the testicles and histopathological evaluations of the right and left testicles, right and left (head, body and tail) epididymis, right and left deferent duct, prostate, bulbourethral gland and seminal vesicle, and biochemistry serum analysis. In addition, 48 prepubertal female piglets were used, whose diets presented two levels of inclusion of anti-mycotoxin additive (AMA) (0.0 and 0.2%) and three levels of ZEA (0.25; 0.6 and 2.0 mg kg -1 or ppm). And still histomorphometric analyzes of the proximal vagina, distal vagina, proximal uterus, medial uterus, distal uterus, right and left ovary, and histopathological findings of the liver, kidneys and organs previously mentioned, and analysis of biochemistry serum. The inclusion of ZEA in gilts diet interfered with the normal levels of serum biochemistry, but also caused dose-dependent histological changes in the two portions of the vagina, in the three portions of uterus, liver and kidney. Dose-dependent alterations were also observed in the ovaries; there was an increase in the number of atresic, and gilts that consumed 2 ppm of ZEA, there was little follicular development and abundant connective tissue stroma. Regarding histomorphometry, the dose-dependent hyperestrogenic effect was pronounced in the proximal vagina, the same did not occur in the three portions of uterus. ZEA did not interfere in the histomorphometry of non-atretic ovarian follicles. There were no significant changes in the histomorphometry and morphometry of the testes of the prepubertal male piglets. In the histopathological evaluation of the reproductive organs and accessory glands of the male piglets there was mainly hyperemia of the vessels and inflammatory infiltrate in the animals that consumed ZEA in their different concentrations. The addition of the AAM in diets of female piglets experimentally intoxicated with zearalenone has been shown to be an alternative to reduce the toxic effects of this mycotoxin. Increasing inclusions of ZEA in the diet of prepubertal male piglets did not alter the morphometry and histomorphometry of the testis. More work in this theme is needed to clearly define the ZEA role on the reproductive organs histology of male pigs.