The Genotoxicity of Caecal Water in Gilts Exposed to Low Doses of Zearalenone

Zearalenone is a toxic low-molecular-weight molecule that is naturally produced by moulds on crops as a secondary metabolite. The aim of this study was to determine the genotoxicity of caecal water collected successively from the caecal contents of gilts exposed to low doses (LOAEL, NOAEL, and MABEL) of zearalenone. The experiment was performed on 60 clinically healthy gilts with average BW of 14.5 ± 2 kg, divided into three experimental groups and a control group. Group ZEN5 were orally administered ZEN at 5 μg/kg BW, group ZEN10—10 μg ZEN/kg BW and group ZEN15—15 µg ZEN/kg BW. Five gilts from every group were euthanized on analytical dates 1, 2, and 3. Caecal water samples for in vitro analysis were collected from the ileocaecal region. The genotoxicity of caecal water was noted, particularly after date 1 in groups ZEN10 and ZEN15 with a decreasing trend. Electrophoresis revealed the presence of numerous comets without tails in groups C and ZEN5 and fewer comets with clearly expressed tails in groups ZEN10 and ZEN15. The distribution of LLC-PK1 cells ranged from 15% to 20% in groups C and ZEN5, and from 30% to 60% in groups ZEN10 and ZEN15. The analysis of caecal water genotoxicity during exposure to very low doses of ZEN revealed the presence of a counter response and a compensatory effect in gilts.