Toxic effects induced by mycotoxin fumonisin B1 on equine spermatozoa: assessment of viability, sperm chromatin structure stability, ROS production and motility.
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.
Minervini
Fiorenza
F
Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), National Council of Research (CNR), via Amendola 122/0, 70125 Bari, Italy. Fiorenza.minervini@ispa.cnr.it
Lacalandra
Giovanni M
GM
Filannino
Angela
A
Garbetta
Antonella
A
Nicassio
Michele
M
Dell'aquila
Maria Elena
ME
Visconti
Angelo
A
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002843:Chromatin / Q000187:drug effects*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D037341:Fumonisins / Q000633:toxicity*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D002843:Chromatin; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D037341:Fumonisins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C056933:fumonisin B1; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C108138:dihydroceramide desaturase