Histologic evaluation of the effects of diethylstilbesterol and zeranol on certain lamb tissues

Forty-eight lambs with equal numbers of rams, ewes, and wethers were used in a growth and metabolism trial. Within each sex, equal numbers were used as controls, and implanted with zeranol or deithylstillbestrol (DES) or both. The lambs were slaughtered 44 days after implanting and the effects of the different implants (or in combination) on certain endocrine glands, urogenital tracts, and other selected tissues were determined. All animals given implants had adrenal cortical hyperplasia. Thyroid gland activity was depressed by DES implants in wethers, and by the combination of zeranol and DES in wethers and rams. Changes in the urogenital tracts of DES-implanted lambs, including the urethra, seminal vesicle, epididymis, testis, and uterus, were similar to those observed following treatment with exogenous estrogens. The results of this evaluation confirm that DES has higher estrogenic activity than zeranol. When these two compounds were used in combination, their estrogenic effects were additive.