Toxic effects induced by mycotoxin fumonisin B1 on equine spermatozoa: assessment of viability, sperm chromatin structure stability, ROS production and motility.
Abstract: Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species that exerts its toxic effect through interference with the sphingolipid pathway by inhibiting ceramide synthase. A FB1-dependent sperm toxicity was reported in boars. No information on FB1-related reproductive toxicity in stallions, the most sensitive animal species, has been reported. The aim of the present study was to assess the in vitro toxicity of FB1 on fresh and frozen-thawed equine spermatozoa by analyzing sperm viability, chromatin stability (SCSA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by flow cytometry and sperm motility by CASA system. Fumonisin B1 did not affect viability of fresh spermatozoa after 2h exposure up to 25 μM. Damage on sperm chromatin structure was observed only in one frozen sample after exposure up to 2.5 x 10⁻⁵ μM FB1 without associated increase of ROS. Increase of ROS, at FB1 levels up to 2.5 x 10⁻⁴ μM, was found on another frozen-thawed sperm sample, may be as a consequence of seminal plasma removal. At 7.5 and 15 μM, FB1 induced reduction of total and progressive motility.
Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Publication Date: 2010-06-09 PubMed ID: 20541003DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2010.05.024Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article investigates the toxic effects of a certain mycotoxin called fumonisin B1 on horse sperm, examining its impact on viability, chromatin stability, reactive oxygen species production, and motility. The study is unique due to the lack of previous information on this particular toxin’s potential reproductive toxicity in stallions.
Objective of the Study
- The main purpose of the study was to explore the in vitro toxicity of fumonisin B1 on fresh and frozen-thawed equine spermatozoa, as this mycotoxin has been previously observed to harm sperm in boars and potentially interfere with the sphingolipid pathway in cells.
- The researchers sought to assess this toxicity through various parameters such as sperm viability, chromatin stability, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and sperm motility, primarily using flow cytometry and the CASA system for analysis.
Key Findings
- Fumonisin B1 did not seem to affect the viability of fresh equine spermatozoa even after exposure of up to two hours and up to concentrations of 25 μM.
- Damage to sperm chromatin structure was observed in one frozen sample after exposure to high concentrations of FB1, however, this did not present an associated increase in reactive oxygen species.
- An increase of reactive oxygen species was discovered in another frozen-thawed sperm sample, but only at higher concentrations of FB1. This increment, according to the authors, might be ascribed to the removal of seminal plasma in the sample preparation.
- The study identified a reduction in total and progressive motility of equine spermatozoa at the higher FB1 concentrations of 7.5 and 15 μM.
Significance of the Study
- This study provides preliminary insights into the potential effects of fumonisin B1 on equine reproduction — a topic that had remained largely unexplored.
- The findings contribute to a broader understanding of reproductive toxicity, particularly in the context of exposure to mycotoxins produced by Fusarium species.
Cite This Article
APA
Minervini F, Lacalandra GM, Filannino A, Garbetta A, Nicassio M, Dell'aquila ME, Visconti A.
(2010).
Toxic effects induced by mycotoxin fumonisin B1 on equine spermatozoa: assessment of viability, sperm chromatin structure stability, ROS production and motility.
Toxicol In Vitro, 24(8), 2072-2078.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tiv.2010.05.024 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), National Council of Research (CNR), via Amendola 122/0, 70125 Bari, Italy. Fiorenza.minervini@ispa.cnr.it
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cell Survival / drug effects
- Chromatin / drug effects
- Enzyme Inhibitors / toxicity
- Fumonisins / toxicity
- Horses
- Male
- Molecular Structure
- Oxidoreductases / antagonists & inhibitors
- Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
- Sperm Motility / drug effects
- Spermatozoa / drug effects
- Spermatozoa / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Qu L, Wang L, Ji H, Fang Y, Lei P, Zhang X, Jin L, Sun D, Dong H. Toxic Mechanism and Biological Detoxification of Fumonisins. Toxins (Basel) 2022 Mar 1;14(3).
- Szabó A, Nagy S, Ali O, Gerencsér Z, Mézes M, Balogh KM, Bartók T, Horváth L, Mouhanna A, Kovács M. A 65-Day Fumonisin B Exposure at High Dietary Levels Has Negligible Effects on the Testicular and Spermatological Parameters of Adult Rabbit Bucks. Toxins (Basel) 2021 Mar 25;13(4).
- Tassis PD, Tsakmakidis IA, Nagl V, Reisinger N, Tzika E, Gruber-Dorninger C, Michos I, Mittas N, Basioura A, Schatzmayr D. Individual and Combined In Vitro Effects of Deoxynivalenol and Zearalenone on Boar Semen. Toxins (Basel) 2020 Aug 1;12(8).
- Vance CK, King EH, Bowers SD, Ryan PL, Walters K, Shappell NW. Reproductive Performance of Mares Fed Dietary Zearalenone. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:423.
- Marzano G, Moscatelli N, Di Giacomo M, Martino NA, Lacalandra GM, Dell'Aquila ME, Maruccio G, Primiceri E, Chiriacò MS, Zara V, Ferramosca A. Centrifugation Force and Time Alter CASA Parameters and Oxidative Status of Cryopreserved Stallion Sperm. Biology (Basel) 2020 Jan 27;9(2).
- Bertero A, Moretti A, Spicer LJ, Caloni F. Fusarium Molds and Mycotoxins: Potential Species-Specific Effects. Toxins (Basel) 2018 Jun 15;10(6).
- Fehér P, Molnár Z, Pálfi MP, Pálfiné Lábadi A, Plank P, Lakatos I, Heltai M, Szemethy L, Stéger V, Szőke Z. The Initial Detection of Mycotoxins Released and Accumulated in the Golden Jackal (Canis aureus): Investigating the Potential of Carnivores as Environmental Bioindicators. Int J Mol Sci 2025 Apr 16;26(8).
- Yu S, Zou L, Zhao J, Zhu Y. Resveratrol Alleviates Fumonisin B1-Induced Cytotoxicity in Sertoli Cells. Foods 2024 Nov 26;13(23).
- Ma J, Huang R, Zhang H, Liu D, Dong X, Xiong Y, Xiong X, Lan D, Fu W, He H, Li J, Yin S. The Protective Effect of Quercetin against the Cytotoxicity Induced by Fumonisin B1 in Sertoli Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2024 Aug 12;25(16).
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