Effects of zearalenone and its derivatives on the synthesis and secretion of mammalian sex steroid hormones: A review

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology 2019-04, Vol.126, p.262-276
• Main Authors: Zheng, Wanglong, Feng, Nannan, Wang, Yin, Noll, Lance, Xu, Shiwei, Liu, Xuming, Lu, Nanyan, Zou, Hui, Gu, Jianhong, Yuan, Yan, Liu, Xuezhong, Zhu, Guoqiang, Bian, Jianchun, Bai, Jianfa, Liu, Zongping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Granulosa cell; Leydig cell; Steroid sex hormones; Steroidogenesis; Zearalenone
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.02.031

Zearalenone (ZEA), a non-steroidal estrogen mycotoxin produced by several species of Fusarium fungi, can be metabolized into many other derivatives by microorganisms, plants, animals and humans. It can affect mammalian reproductive capability by impacting the synthesis and secretion of sex hormones, including testosterone, estradiol and progesterone. This review summarizes the mechanisms in which ZEA and its derivatives disturb the synthesis and secretion of sex steroid hormones. Because of its structural analogy to estrogen, ZEA and its derivatives can exert a variety of estrogen-like effects and engage in estrogen negative feedback regulation, which can result in mediating the production of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in the pituitary gland. ZEA and its derivatives can ultimately reduce the number of Leydig cells and granulosa cells by inducing oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, cell cycle arrest, cell apoptosis, and cell regeneration delay. Additionally, they can disrupt the mitochondrial structure and influence mitochondrial functions through overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and aberrant autophagy signaling ways. Finally, ZEA and its derivatives can disturb the expressions and activities of the related steroidogenic enzymes through cross talking between membrane and nuclear estrogen receptors. •ZEA and its derivatives can influence mammalian reproductive capability by affecting the synthesis of sex hormones.•ZEA and its derivatives can exert estrogen-like effects to mediate the production of FSH and LH.•ZEA and its derivatives disturb the cell functions and reduce the cell numbers of Leydig and granulosa cells.•ZEA and its derivatives disrupt mitochondria through the overproduction of ROS and aberrant autophagy signaling.•ZEA and its derivatives can disturb the expressions and activities of the related steroidogenic enzymes.