AUTHOR=Wu Fengyang , Gao Lijie , Li Fei , Cui Jia , Yang Xinyu , Liu Yanhua , Chen Saijuan , Chen Baojiang 

TITLE=Effects of zearalenone on ovarian development of prepubertal gilts through growth hormone axis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.950063

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2022.950063

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>This experiment aimed to establish the effects of zearalenone (ZEN) on ovarian development in prepubertal gilts through the growth hormone axis [growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) / growth hormone (GH) / growth hormone receptor (GHR)]. In a 40-day experiment, 48 Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred prepubertal gilts were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments, including a basal diet supplemented with 0 (control), 400 (T1), 800 (T2), and 1,600 (T3) μg/kg ZEN. The ovary index of T2 (<italic>P</italic> = 0.058) and T3 (<italic>P</italic> = 0.065) increased compared to the control group. Besides, histopathological examination revealed that ZEN promoted the development of ovaries and follicles. The GHR content, relative expression levels of <italic>GHR</italic>, janus activated kinase 2 (<italic>JAK2</italic>) mRNA, and mean optical density of GHR in the ovaries of prepubertal gilts in the T2 experimental group increased significantly at <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05 compared to the control group. The T3 group had significantly higher GHR content, relative <italic>JAK2</italic> expression levels, and signal transducer and activator of transcriptions 3 (<italic>STAT3</italic>) mRNA. In conclusion, ZEN enhances the biological effect of GH, promotes the development of the ovary (follicle), and exerts reproductive toxicity by increasing the expression level of <italic>GHR, JAK2</italic>, and <italic>STAT3</italic> mRNA ovary and immune intensity of GHR protein.</p>