The influence of the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol and zearalenol on in vitro maturation of pig oocytes and in vitro culture of pig zygotes

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of specific toxins on in vitro maturation and embryo culture. α- and β-zearalenol were tested at increasing levels from 3.75 to 90 μ m and deoxynivalenol from 0.94 to 7.5 μ m in order to evaluate the effect on in vitro maturation rate of porcine cumulus–oocyte complexes. Furthermore, the influence of α-zearalenol (3.75–30 μ m) was appraised on the developmental competence of in vivo-derived zygotes during 5 days of in vitro culture. All three substances affected maturation and degeneration rates in a dose-dependent manner, but to different extents. Significant differences were obtained at a concentration of 7.5 μ m α-zearalenol and higher. β-zearalenol negatively affected the process of oocyte development beginning at a concentration of 30.0 μ m ( P<0.05). Deoxynivalenol had significant influence on oocyte maturation at a concentration of 1.88 μ m (31.4 vs 79.3% for control). Differences in embryonic development in vitro were observed at a concentration of 15 μ m α-zearalenol ( P<0.05). These data demonstrate a negative effect of α-zearalenol on embryonic development of zygotes, and a compound-specific, dose-dependent negative effect of the three substances on meiotic progression of porcine oocytes.