EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM ZEARALENONE ADMINISTRATION ON SPERMATOGENESIS AND SERUM LUTEINIZING-HORMONE, FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE, AND PROLACTIN VALUES IN MALE-RATS

Body and testis weights, serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulati ng hormone, and prolactin values and volume fractions of Sertoli cells , spermatogonia, early and late primary spermatocytes, and round and l ong spermatids were evaluated in 70-day-old male rats treated orally w ith 20 mg of zearalenone/kg of body weight daily for 5 weeks. A signif icant (P < 0.05) increase in serum prolactin concentration was consist ently observed during the 5 weeks of treatment with zearalenone. Signi ficant changes were not observed in any of the other variables evaluat ed.