α-Zearalenol

α-Zearalenol is a mycotoxin, an agonist of estrogen receptor α (ERα), and an active metabolite of zearalenone (Item No. 11353).^1,2 α-Zearalenol increases the proliferation of MCF-7 cells that endogenously express ERα (EC₅₀ = 0.06 nM).² It is also an androgen receptor antagonist (IC₅₀ = 4,170 nM for the human receptor). α-Zearalenol induces cytotoxicity in isolated phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated pig neutrophils (IC₅₀ = 59.0 µM). It increases intracellular superoxide levels when used at a concentration of 1 µM and decreases IL-8 supernatant levels in the same cells at 10 µM.³ It increases total and progressive motility and the levels of acrosome-reacted sperm, as well as decreases path and straight-line velocity and cell linearity, in isolated stallion sperm when used at a concentration of 100 µM.⁴ α-Zearalenol (1 mg/kg) increases uterine weight in immature female mice when administered at a dose of 1 mg/kg.¹

WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.

1. Ueno, Y., and Tashiro, F. α-Zearalenol, a major hepatic metabolite in rats of zearalenone, an estrogenic mycotoxin of Fusarium species. J. Biochem. 89(2), 563-571 (1981).

2. Molina-Molina, J.M., Real, M., Jimenez-Diaz, I., et al. Assessment of estrogenic and anti-androgenic activities of the mycotoxin zearalenone and its metabolites using in vitro receptor-specific bioassays. Food Chem. Toxicol. 74, 233-239 (2014).

3. Marin, D.E., Taranu, I., Burlacu, R., et al. Effects of zearalenone and its derivatives on the innate immune response of swine. Toxicon 56(6), 956-953 (2010).

4. Filannino, A., Stout, T.A.E., Gadella, B.M., et al. Dose-response effects of estrogenic mycotoxins (zearalenone, alpha- and beta-zearalenol) on motility, hyperactivation and the acrosome reaction of stallion sperm. Reprod. Biol. Endocrinol. 9, 134 (2011).