A 65-Day Fumonisin B Exposure at High Dietary Levels Has Negligible Effects on the Testicular and Spermatological Parameters of Adult Rabbit Bucks.

András Szabó,Zsolt Gerencsér,Szabolcs Nagy,Levente Horváth,Miklós Mézes,Melinda Kovács,Tibor Bartók,Omeralfaroug Ali,Aziz Mouhanna,Krisztián Milán Balogh

doi:10.3390/toxins13040237

András Szabó, Zsolt Gerencsér + Show 8 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13040237

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Journal: Toxins	Publication Date: Mar 25, 2021
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Magyar Agrár- és Élettudományi Egyetem

Abstract

A 65-day study was undertaken to test the effects of two doses (10 and 20 mg/kg) of dietary fumonisin Bs (FB) on the rabbit male reproduction system. Body and testicular weight was not affected by the intoxication, neither the fatty acid composition of the testicular total phospholipids; the testis histological analysis failed to reveal any toxic effect. The FBs increased the testicular concentration and activity of reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase and decreased initial phase lipid peroxidation (conjugated dienes and trienes) in a dose dependent manner. Sperm morphology and chromatin condensation were monitored on Feulgen-stained smears. No significant differences were observed between the treatment groups and between sampling time points. The live cell ratio in the sperm (as assessed with flow cytometry) was not different among groups at any of the five sampling timepoints and was also identical within groups. Similarly, the spermatozoa membrane lipid profile was also identical in all three groups after the total intoxication period. In summary, it was demonstrated that FBs in an unrealistic and unjustified high dose still do not exert any drastic harmful effect on the leporine, male reproduction system, meanwhile slightly augmenting testicular antioxidant response.

Highlights

Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium verticillioides and proliferatum filamentous fungi (Liseola section), mostly infecting cereal commodities, the starch feed basis of monogastric farm animals
The consequences of fumonisin-mediated disruption of sphingolipid metabolism are most likely altered cell regulation, since the cellular concentrations of free sphingoid bases are increased and ceramide biosynthesis becomes inhibited. Both above compounds are capable in the induction of cell death, and, according to Riley et al [6], tumorigenesis is basically initiated by the imbalance between ceramide (↓), sphingosine 1-phosphate (↑), and altered fatty acid (FA) profile [7]
The rabbit production performance has been tested during fumonisin B1 (FB1) intoxication in our earlier study, when 10 mg/kg FB1 for 4 weeks did not compromise rabbit buck growth [18]

Summary

Introduction

Fumonisins are mycotoxins (fungal secondary metabolites) produced by Fusarium verticillioides and proliferatum filamentous fungi (Liseola section), mostly infecting cereal commodities, the starch feed basis of monogastric farm animals. Target organs of FB1 are liver and kidney in most domestic animal species; the harmful effect on these organs is exerted via an altered (perturbed) sphingolipid metabolism, leading to apoptotic and oncotic necrosis, and carcinogenesis in rodents [6]. The consequences of fumonisin-mediated disruption of sphingolipid metabolism are most likely altered cell regulation, since the cellular concentrations of free sphingoid bases are increased and ceramide biosynthesis becomes inhibited. Both above compounds are capable in the induction of cell death, and, according to Riley et al [6], tumorigenesis is basically initiated by the imbalance between ceramide (↓), sphingosine 1-phosphate (↑), and altered fatty acid (FA) profile [7]

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