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. 2021 Mar 18;7(3):587–594. doi: 10.1016/j.aninu.2021.01.002

Fig. 3.

Fig. 3

Metabolic characteristics and estrogenic effects of zearalenone (ZEN). (A) Compared with pigs, chickens excrete more ZEN and metabolites of ZEN through bile. (B) The main metabolite of ZEN is α-ZOL in both chickens and pigs. Compared with pigs, chickens produce less α-ZOL, more β-ZOL, and a smaller ratio of α-ZOL to β-ZOL. (C) Intestinal microbes can hydroxylate ZEN or release ZEN after metabolizing masked ZEN. (D) ZEN can compete with E2 and cholesterol for substrate sites, affecting estrogen function and synthesis. ZEN = zearalenone; ZOL = zearalenol; HSD = hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; GlcA = glucuronic acid; E2 = 17-β estradiol.