Plasma and urinary levels of zearalenone and alpha-zearalenol in a prepubertal gilt fed zearalenone.

One prepubertal gilt, fed 192 micrograms zearalenone/kg body weight/day for 4 days, showed plasma concentrations of alpha-zearalenol 3-4 times higher than of the parent compound during the treatment. Zearalenone and alpha-zearalenol could be traced in plasma until the 5th day and in urine until the 4th day of the posttreatment period. A maximum circulating amount of zearalenone plus alpha-zearalenol, 10.4 ng/ml plasma, was found on the 4th day of treatment followed by an urinary excretion of 305 ng/ml urine. All zearalenone and alpha-zearalenol in plasma and urine were bound to glucuronic acid. On the second day of treatment the animal showed oedema and reddening of the vulva which became more pronounced during the treatment. Hormone analysis, however, showed that the animal had no oestrus cycle during the 3 week experimental period.