The present study investigated the effects of the mycotoxins alpha-zearalenol (alpha-ZOL) and beta-zearalenol (beta-ZOL) at concentrations of 7.5, 15, and 30 microM, and deoxynivalenol (DON) at concentrations of 0.94, 1.88, and 3.76 microM on cell cycle distribution (propidium iodide, PI staining) in combination with the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) by flow cytometry. The viability of porcine uterine cells was not impaired at 30 microM alpha-ZOL, whereas beta-ZOL at this concentration and 3.76 microM DON significantly decreased cell number. Some cells showed ultrastructural features of cell death indicated by swollen mitochondria, disrupted cell membranes, and many vacuoles. After 24 and 48h of exposure to alpha-ZOL (7.5, 15, or 30 microM), the cell cycle distribution was still comparable to the control groups. An anti-proliferative effect of beta-ZOL and DON was detected by a significant reduction in the S-phase together with arrest of cells in the G(0)/G(1)-phase. The results show that beta-ZOL (7.5, 15, or 30 microM) and DON (0.94, 1.88, or 3.76 microM) control the progression of cells through the cycle by decreasing S-phase and arresting cells in the G(0)/G(1)-phase of the cell cycle. A significant decrease in the expression of the proliferation marker PCNA amounts indicates that beta-ZOL and DON disengaged cells from active cycling. We confirm that alpha-ZOL possesses a relative binding affinity to porcine uterine cytoplasmic estrogen receptor.