Evaluation of zearalenone and α‐zearalenol toxicity on boar sperm DNA integrity

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the in vitro effects of zearalenone (zen) and alpha-zearalenol (alpha-zen) on motility and nuclear chromatin integrity (NCI) of boar spermatozoa. Mycotoxins were tested, at levels ranging from 10 to 30 microg ml(-1) of diluted semen. Four boars were used for semen collection (eight replicates per boar, four per mycotoxin). After the addition of zen or alpha-zen, semen samples were incubated for 4 h at 38.5 degrees C, 5% CO(2) and 96% humidified air. Motility and NCI were assessed at 0 and 4 h of incubation. No significant differences were noticed in motility among the experimental groups (P > 0.05) for all tested boars. Chromatin instability was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in spermatozoa of only one boar treated with zen and alpha-zen independently of the dose. In conclusion, under our experimental conditions, zen and alpha-zen did not affect the motility of boar sperm, whereas the effects of these toxins on sperm NCI were individual-dependent.

Effects of Panax ginseng, zearalenol, and estradiol on sperm function

“…Final concentrations in the samples tested were as follows: (1) E 2 , 10 μg/mL; (2) ginseng extract, 2 mg/mL; and (3) α-zearalenol, 10 μg/mL [53]. Extracts of ginseng were prepared by adding 10 mL 80% methanol to 2 g powdered root samples and shaking for 5 h. Samples were centrifuged at 1,800 g for 15 min and the supernatants removed.…”

A rapid method for simultaneous determination of zearalenone, α-zearalenol, β-zearalenol, zearalanone, α-zearalanol and β-zearalanol in traditional Chinese medicines by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

“…Acute and chronic injection of ZEN, ␣-ZOL and ␤-ZOL by animals can elicit a variety of toxic effects, i.e. enlargement of mammary glands and uterus, infertility, vaginal prolapse and atrophy of testicles and ovaries [1,[3][4][5]. ␣-Zearalanol (␣-ZAL) is a resorcyclic acid lactone and might arise from the metabolism of ␣-ZOL or ZEN [6,7].…”

The non-genomic effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on mammalian sperm

“…Tsakmakidis et al (2006) showed that exposure to ZEA led to a reduction in sperm viability, progressive motility and the percentage of sperm capable to undergo acrosome reaction. Moreover, in 2008, the same group revealed that ZEA also affected sperm chromatin integrity (Tsakmakidis et al 2008). Contrarily to boar, horse sperm was thought to be less susceptible to the effects of ZEA.…”