Susceptibility of Oocytes from Gilts and Sows to Beauvericin and Deoxynivalenol and Its Relationship with Oxidative Stress

Abstract

Beauvericin (BEA) and deoxynivalenol are toxins produced by Fusarium species that can contaminate food and feed. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of these mycotoxins on the maturation of oocytes from gilts and sows. Furthermore, the antioxidant profiles in the oocytes’ environment were assessed. Cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) from gilts and sows were exposed to beauvericin (BEA) or deoxynivalenol (DON) and matured in vitro. As an extra control, these COCs were also exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS). The maturation was mostly impaired when oocytes from gilts were exposed to 0.02 μmol/L DON. Oocytes from sows were able to mature even in the presence of 5 μmol/L BEA. However, the maturation rate of gilt oocytes was already impaired by 0.5 μmol/L BEA. It was observed that superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) levels in the follicular fluid (FF) of gilt oocytes was higher than that from sows. However, the expression of SOD1 and glutathione synthetase (GSS) was higher in the oocytes from sows than in those from gilts. Although DON and BEA impair cell development by diverse mechanisms, this redox imbalance may partially explain the vulnerability of gilt oocytes to these mycotoxins.

Adverse Effects of Fusarium Toxins in Ruminants: A Review of In Vivo and In Vitro Studies

“…Moreover, depending on the developmental stage, oocytes can be more sensitive to mycotoxins. Oocytes from gilts are more susceptible to DON and BEA than those from sows, probably because of a difference in the redox balance [189]. In pigs, the negative impact of DON was previously demonstrated by the inhibition of oocyte maturation [190].…”

Effects of Chronic Exposure to Diets Containing Moldy Corn or Moldy Wheat Bran on Growth Performance, Ovarian Follicular Pool, and Oxidative Status of Gilts

“…In the present study, we measured the antioxidant capacity in the serum, liver, and follicular fluid of gilts and found that inclusion of either MC or MW resulted in a significant elevation of MDA and suppressed secretions of SOD, suggesting that oxidative stress was induced by a high level of mycotoxins. Oxidative stress is a phenomenon that occurs in a cell when the concentration of reactive oxygen species exceeds the antioxidant capacity, and it usually impairs the reproductive performance of sows [23]. Luderer et al suggested that oxidative stress was involved in reproductive toxicity caused by various stimuli such as a dietary toxicity.…”

“…Compared with a single mycotoxin, multiple mycotoxins contained in naturally moldy feed have more severe toxicity due to their synergism. However, most studies of the effects of mycotoxins on the growth and development of pigs added a purified mycotoxin to the diet [13,16,[21][22][23], and the hygiene standards in China and the EU for porcine diets were established according to results based on experiments conducted with purified mycotoxin. To date, the dose-dependent effects of including different levels of mycotoxin-contaminated cereal grains on the growth performance and ovarian follicle reserve in replacement gilts is poorly understood.…”

2-Hydroxy-4-Methylselenobutanoic Acid (HMSeBA) Promote Follicle Development By Antioxidant Pathway in Gilts

“…The other is the non-enzymatic antioxidant system, including thioneine, vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, selenium (Se), etc [34]. Oxidative stress impaired many physiological processes of reproductive system, from oocyte maturation and fertilization to pregnancy and embryo development [11,35,36]. Once oxidative stress occurs in granulose cell, it impairs its function.…”