AIMS To investigate the mechanisms of α-zearalanol (Zeranol)-induced male reproductive toxicity, the effects of Zeranol on spermatogenesis and sex hormone levels of male mice were studied. METHODS Forty healthy sexually mature male Kunming mice were randomly divided into four groups. The mice were mock-treated or treated with Zeranol 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg via oral gavage for 35 days. The epidid...

Although estrogen replacement therapy may improve dampened endothelial function in postmenopausal women, the associated risk of breast and ovarian cancer has limited its long-term use. Identifying effective alternative remedy with less carcinogenicity is in serious demand. This study was designed to examine the effect of the phytoestrogen alpha-zearalanol (alpha-ZAL) on homocysteine-induced end...

Zeranol (alpha-zearalanol) is a metabolite of the mycoestrogen zearalenone, and is used as a growth promoter of livestock due to its strong estrogenic activity. In the present study, we investigated the effects of zeranol on the growth of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and -negative human breast carcinoma cells in vitro, and the molecules involved. At low concentrations, zeranol accelerated th...

Pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in hyaluronic acid-modified chitosan/collagen/nano-hydroxyapatite (HA-CS/Col/nHAP) composite scaffolds and treated with phytoestrogen α-zearalanol (α-ZAL) to improve bone tissue formation for bone tissue engineering. Perfusion and dynamic strain were applied to three-dimensional (3D) cultured cells, which simulates mechanical microenvironment in bone ...

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a resorcylic acid lactone derivative produced by various Fusarium species that are widely found in food and feeds. The structure of zearalenone is flexible enough to allow a conformation able to bind to mammalian oestrogen receptors, where it acts as an agonist. Using oestrogen-dependent Human Breast Cancer (MCF-7) cells, the oestrogenic activity of zearalenone and its deri...

We have examined the tissue-specific mRNA expression of ER alpha and ER beta in various bovine tissues using real-time RT-PCR. The goal of this study was to evaluate the deviating tissue sensitivities and the influence of the estrogenic active preparation RALGRO on the tissue-specific expression and regulation of both ER subtypes. RALGRO contains Zeranol (alpha-Zearalanol), a derivative of the ...

A wide range of chemicals with diverse structures derived from plant and environmental origins are reported to have hormonal activity. The potential for appreciable exposure of humans to such substances prompts the need to develop sensitive screening methods to quantitate and evaluate the risk to the public. Yeast cells transformed with plasmids encoding the human estrogen receptor and an estro...

Supplements and growth promotants containing steroid hormones are routinely administered to beef cattle to improve feeding efficiency, reduce behavioral problems, and enhance production. As a result, beef cattle manure will contain both synthetic steroids as well as a range of endogenous steroids including androgens, estrogens, and progestogens. A two-year controlled study was conducted in whic...

Trenbolone acetate (TBA), melengestrol acetate (MGA) and zeranol are synthetic growth promoters extensively used in animal husbandry, yet despite occurrence in water and soil little is known about their environmental fate. The work provides some of the first details related to the persistence and mobility of these synthetic growth promoters and their metabolites (SGPM) in natural aquatic system...

Zeranol (Z) is an estrogenic growth-promoting agent synthesized from mycotoxin zearalenone (Zen). Inadvertent consumption of Z and its structural analogs from meat or grain products remain a food safety concern. An economic and rapid high performance liquid chromatography method with electrochemical detection using disposable screen-printed carbon electrode is developed for determination of Z, ...