Individual and Combined In Vitro Effects of Deoxynivalenol and Zearalenone on Boar Semen

Abstract

Mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) can negatively affect pig health. However, little is known about their effects on boar semen. We assessed the individual and combined effects of DON and ZEN on boar semen in vitro. In a pretrial, we determined the minimum dose (MiD) of each mycotoxin that induces a significant alteration of sperm progressive motility, as investigated using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). In the main trial, the individual and combined effects of each mycotoxin’s MiD on sperm motility and kinetics (CASA analysis), morphology (SpermBlue staining), viability (calcein-propidium iodide staining), membrane functional status (hypoosmotic swelling test), and chromatin integrity (acridine orange staining) were analyzed. Pretrial results suggested a MiD of 50.6 μM and 62.8 μM for DON and ZEN, respectively. In the main trial, DON and ZEN administered at MiD significantly affected CASA parameters (e.g., increase of immotile spermatozoa, reduction of progressive motile spermatozoa), decreased sperm viability, and affected sperm morphology (head abnormalities) and membrane functional status. DON and ZEN showed less than additive effects on most parameters tested and a synergistic effect on viability and on two CASA parameters. In conclusion, DON and ZEN showed individual and combined toxic effects on boar semen in vitro.

Investigation of a Novel Multicomponent Mycotoxin Detoxifying Agent in Amelioration of Mycotoxicosis Induced by Aflatoxin-B1 and Ochratoxin A in Broiler Chicks

“…Multi-mycotoxin analysis of aflatoxins (AFB 1 , AFB 2 , AFG 1 , AFG 2 ), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), OTA, fumonisins (FB 1 , FB 2 ) and trichothecenes (T 2 , HT 2 ) for the trial feeds was performed at an accredited testing laboratory (Agrolab RDS, Sindos, Greece), whereas feed nutritional analysis was performed in the Laboratory of Nutrition (School of Veterinary Medicine, AUTh). Mycotoxin analysis of feed was performed by LC/MS–MS following the method of Li et al [ 59 ] for fumonisins detection and Ren et al [ 60 ] for the rest of the toxins, as described by Tassis et al [ 61 ]. Detection limits were 0.5 μg/kg for AFB 1 , AFB 2 , AFG 1 , AFG 2 , 1 μg/kg for OTA, T-2, HT-2 and DAS, and 10 μg/kg for ZEN, DON, FB 1 , FB 2 .…”

Exposure to Deoxynivalenol During Pregnancy and Lactation Enhances Food Allergy and Reduces Vaccine Responsiveness in the Offspring in a Mouse Model

“…Although there are regulations set to limit the level of DON concentration in human food products (1-2 mg/kg of food) (29), masked and modified forms of DON, which are not detected by established standard methods, may lead to underreporting of mycotoxin levels in food products (62). Moreover, humans are likely exposed to varying levels of the mixtures of mycotoxins present in the different food products on a daily basis, which can have additive to synergistic toxic effects (63,64), and make it difficult to estimate the exact exposure levels. Thus, investigating the immunomodulatory effect of DON at a wide range of concentrations, including the concentrations above the established limits can be considered as highly relevant.…”

Zearalenone and Its Metabolites—General Overview, Occurrence, and Toxicity

“…Moreover, Tassis et al [ 67 ] carried out a boar semen analysis. The authors showed that ZEN negatively affects various sperm parameters such as sperm viability and motility.…”