title: Effects of the tricothecene mycotoxin diacetoxyscirpenol on fertility and hatchability of broiler breeders.
abstract: Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of 4,15-diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) on fertility and hatchability of broiler breeders. In Experiment 1, naturally mated broiler breeders were studied. A limited daily allocation of feed containing 0 (basal), 1.25, 2.5, or 5.0 mg DAS/kg diet was provided from 67 to 69 wk of age in slat-litter floor pens. Fertility was consistently improved by the 5.0 mg/kg level of DAS and intermittently by the 1.25 and 2.50 mg/kg levels. The effect disappeared upon removal of DAS. In Experiment 2, individually caged broiler breeder males and females were fed a basal diet containing 0, 5, 10, or 20 mg DAS/kg diet from 25 to 27 wk of age. Semen was pooled from males within each treatment and used to inseminate females from each treatment in a 4 x 4 factorial design. Female-related fertility was increased at the 5 and 10 mg DAS/kg levels and male-related fertility was decreased by the 10 and 20 mg DAS/kg levels. Small, fluid-filled cysts were observed on the testes of many DAS-treated males upon necropsy. In summary, low levels of DAS (< or =10 mg DAS/kg) appeared to improve female-related fertility, presumably because of enhanced spermatozoal storage within the oviduct. Conversely, DAS (> or =10 mg DAS/kg) decreased male-related fertility, presumably by direct toxic effects on the testes. Overall, it appeared that levels of DAS below 5 mg DAS/kg feed would not be detrimental to fertility and hatchability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-7608, USA. john_brake@ncsu.edu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brake
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kittrell
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D008297:Male; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010058:Oviposition; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction; D012661:Semen; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009183:Mycotoxins; D014255:Trichothecenes; C001809:diacetoxyscirpenol