Toxicological approaches to the metabolites of Fusaria. X. Accelerating effect of zearalenone on RNA and protein syntheses in the uterus of ovariectomized mice.

In order to clarify the mode of action of zearalenone, a uterotrophic mycotoxin of Fusarium species, biochemical alteration of uterine tissue of ovariectomized mice were investigated. Administration of zearalenone to the mice induced an increase in contents of uterine RNA, protein and DNA. In vitro incubation of uterine tissue isolated from zearalenone-pretreated mice demonstrated a temporal elevation of RNA and protein syntheses. Accelerating effect of zearalenone on the cellular permeability to 14C-alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, 14C-(3-O-methyl)-glucose and 3H-uridine was also demonstrated, and this alteration of uterine permeability is presumed to be a primary effect of zearalenone.