Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2022, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (5): 1615-1625.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2022.05.029

• CLINICAL VETERINARY MEDICINE • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Toxicity of Zearalenone on Chicken Embryo Fibroblasts

ZHANG Kaizhao1,2,3, HU Hui1, XU Zekai1, WANG Shiqian1, CUI Hongjie1,2,3, HUANG Xiaohong1,2,3*   

  1. 1. College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China;
    2. University Key Laboratory for Integrated Chinese Traditional and Western Veterinary Medicine and Animal Healthcare in Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350002, China;
    3. Fujian Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
  • Received:2021-09-08 Online:2022-05-23 Published:2022-05-25

Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of the toxic effects of zearalenone (ZEA) on chicken embryo fibroblasts (DF-1). The cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase activity, Caspase-3 levels, cell apoptosis, cellular reactive oxygen species levels, mitochondrial membrane potential change and expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERs) and apoptosis-related genes were detected by MTT, colorimetric assay, ELISA, Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, fluorescence microscopy and RT-qPCR, respectively. The results showed that 12.5-50.0 μg·mL-1 ZEA significantly inhibited the proliferation of DF-1 cells (P<0.01) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Herein 25.0 μg·mL-1 ZEA treated cells for 24 h resulted in a significant increase in LDH and Caspase-3 levels in the supernatant (P<0.01); the levels of ROS and the number of apoptotic cells in the cells were highly significant (P<0.01); the mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly reduced (P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of apoptosis-related genes Caspase-3 and Bax were highly significantly up-regulated (P<0.01) and that of Bcl-2 was highly significantly down-regulated (P<0.01); the mRNA expression levels of ERs-related genes GRP78, ATF6, ATF4, CHOP and PERK were highly significantly up-regulated (P<0.01). The results indicated that ZEA could exert toxic effects on chicken embryonic fibroblasts through endoplasmic reticulum stress leading to apoptosis. The results of the study provide a basis for further research on the toxic effects of ZEA on chicken cells and the means of detoxification, and have implications for the treatment of related avian diseases.

Key words: zearalenone, chicken embryo fibroblasts, cytotoxicity, endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis

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