PATHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF DIETARY ZEARALENONE AND OR TAMOXIFEN ON FEMALE MINK REPRODUCTIVE-ORGANS/

The efficacy of dietary tamoxifen (TAM) to alleviate the hyperestrogen ic effects of the mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEN) was assessed by patholog ic examination of the reproductive organs of female mink (Mustela viso n). Mink were fed 20 mg/kg ZEN, 10 mg/kg TAM, or 20 mg/kg ZEN + 10 mg/ kg TAM from about 2 mo prior to breeding until the kits reached 3 w of age. All female mink fed ZEN mated, but only 25% whelped. No mink fed TAM or TAM + ZEN mated. Postmortem examination revealed moderate to s everely distended uteri filled with caseated necrotic substances in th e TAM, ZEN and ZEN + TAM fed mink. Histologic examination revealed mil d to severe endometrial hyperplasia to uterine atrophy, endometritis, metritis and pyometra. Ovarian follicles were atrophied and degenerate d. TAM was not effective in alleviating the hyperestrogenic effects of ZEN but was a potent estrogen agonist in mink.