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Effect of Dietary Alfalfa on Zearalenone Toxicity and Metabolism in Rats and Swine^1,2,

University of Guelph^,4, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, NIG 2W1

³ To whom reprint requests should be addressed.

Abstract

Experiments were conducted with rats and swine to determine the potential of dietary alfalfa as a treatment for zearalenone (Z) toxicosis. Ninety-six female weanling Wistar rats were fed a casein-based semipurified diet containing 0, 15 or 25% alfalfa and 0 or 250 µg Z/g feed. Exposure to Z for 14 d resulted in reduced growth, feed consumption and feed efficiency as well as kidney and liver enlargement and reduced activity of 3-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (3-HSD). Z had no effect on uterine weight. Including alfalfa in these diets reduced the inhibitory effects of Z on growth and feed consumption, minimized Z-induced liver enlargement and increased hepatic 3-HSD activity. Dietary alfalfa also reduced concentrations of residual Z and zearalenols (Zl) in liver. In a second experiment, 108 Yorkshire gilts weighing 8 to 11 kg were fed diets containing 0, 15 or 25% alfalfa and 0,10, 20 or 40µg Z/g feed for 4 wk. Z caused uterine enlargement when fed as low as 10 µg/g feed, although no effects were seen in growth rate, feed consumption or feed efficiency. Alfalfa decreased uterine enlargement (P<.05), but caused a depression in feed efficiency (P<.05). Hepatic 3-HSD activity was five times lower in swine than in rats, although activity still tended to decrease with Z and increase with alfalfa feeding. Residues of Z and Zl in pig liver indicated species differences in the metabolism of Z. These studies show that dietary alfalfa promotes Z metabolism in rats and that this feedstuff may also be useful for treating Z toxicosis in livestock.

¹ Research supported by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Agriculture Canada, Ontario Pork Producers Marketing Board and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Purified zearalenone was the gift of IMC Chemical Group Inc., Terre Haute, IN.

² The technical assistance of Mrs. M. H. Carter, Mrs. M. Rich and Ms. I.C.J. Middleraad and the advice of Dr. L. G. McGirr are gratefully acknowledged.

⁴ Dept. of Nutr.

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