ABSTRACT
It is important, in dealing with naturally occurring toxins, to know the full spectrum of their toxicity so that rational decisions on the disposition of contaminated feed can be made, and so that outbreaks can be identified rapidly and accurately. Before addressing the reproductive effects of trichothecenes, however, it is necessary to consider some of the primary concerns of reproductive toxicology. The role of aberrant maternal metabolism in reproductive toxicology has been explicitly investigated both by analyzing the existing literature and by direct experiment. Because of the controversy over the role of maternal morbidity in the etiology of congenital malformations, considerable emphasis is laid on the presence or absence of maternal toxicity in the discussion of the reproductive effects of trichothecenes that follows. In the case of reproductive toxicity due to mycotoxins, the complexities of reproductive toxicology are increased by the nature of the environmental exposure: numerous fungi produce toxins that vary in structure and mode of action.
