title: Protective effect of esterified glucomannan on aflatoxin-induced changes in testicular function, sperm quality, and seminal plasma biochemistry in rams.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of aflatoxin (AF) on spermatologic, biochemical, and testis parameters in rams, and the protective efficiency of esterified glucomannan (EG) co-administered with AF. Thirty-two Merino rams (12-14 months old) were used. The experimental design consisted of four dietary treatments. The control group was fed commercial feed. The AF group was fed with commercial feed plus 250 μg/d of total AF. The EG group received commercial feed plus 2 g/d of EG. The AF + EG group was given commercial feed plus 250 μg/d of total AF and 2 g/d of EG. There were treatment, time, and treatment-by-time interaction effects on sperm motility, abnormal spermatozoa, damaged acrosome, and dead spermatozoa (P < 0.01). The percentage of motile sperm was lower and the percentages of abnormal sperm, sperm with damaged acrosomes, and dead sperm were greater in the AF group than in the control, AF+EG, and EG groups, as from week 3 until the end of week 12 (P < 0.05). As from week 3, hyaluronidase activity in the seminal plasma increased significantly in the AF group, compared with the control. The co-administration of AF+EG was found to be effective in preventing the increase in hyaluronidase activity. As week 4, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly higher in the AF group compared with the control. The combined administration of AF+EG was found to be effective in lowering the MDA levels, increased by AF, to the levels measured in the control (P < 0.05). Although glutathione (GSH) levels were determined to have significantly decreased in the AF group in comparison to the control, it was observed that, in the group co-administered with AF and EG, particularly after week 7, the GSH levels, which had decreased owing to AF, were largely ameliorated (P < 0.05). In conclusion, AF adversely affected spermatologic, biochemical, and testis parameters, and the combined administration of EG with AF reversibly eliminated these adverse effects in rams.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Veterinary Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Bozkurt
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ataman
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Veterinary Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan Hüseyin
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Dönmez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Veterinary Faculty, Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Manas University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
authors.forename: Nurcan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dönmez
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Veterinary Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emrah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sur
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Veterinary Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey. Electronic address: mustafanbucak@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mustafa Numan
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Bucak
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kenan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Coyan
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008351:Mannans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D008351:Mannans; D020011:Protective Agents; C022901:(1-6)-alpha-glucomannan; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Aflatoxin; Glucomannan; Ram; Reproductive parameters