Abstract
The mycotoxin zearalenone (zen) impairs fertility in farm animals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of zearalenone and its major metabolite (alpha-zearalenol) on boar semen binding capacity, under in vitro conditions. Extended boar semen was exposed to three different concentrations of zen and alpha-zen (40, 60 and 80 microg ml(-1) of semen) for 1 h. Afterwards, the semen was washed and incubated with homologous oocyte hemizona for 4 h. A significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the number of tightly attached spermatozoa on the hemizona was obtained at concentrations of 60 microg ml(-1) and 80 microg ml(-1) of zen and alpha-zen. In conclusion, zen and alpha-zen affected the sperm-zona interaction by reducing the ability of boar spermatozoa to bind to the zona pellucida.
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