Veterinary Research Forum
Vet Res Forum

Alpha-zearalenol negatively influences ram sperm parameters during liquid storage

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Soghra Abbaszadeh 1
Farhad Farrokhi-Ardabili 1
Hassan Malekinejad 2
Iraj Bernousi 3

1 Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

2 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran

3 Department Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30466/vrf.2018.30823
Abstract
This study was aimed to investigate the effects of 17 𝛽-estradiol (E2) and 𝛼-zearalenol (α-ZOL) on motility parameters, plasma membrane integrity, levels of produced nitric oxide (NO) and total antioxidant capacity of Ghezel ram sperm during the liquid storage at 4 ˚C, for various periods of time. Semen samples were collected from four rams and diluted with Tris–egg yolk extender and supplemented with E2 (100 µmol) or different concentrations of α-ZOL (100 pmol, 100 nmol and 100 µmol) at a final concentration of 200 × 106 sperm per mL. We failed to show any significant effect of E2 at 100 µmol concentration on ram’s sperm parameters while α-ZOL resulted in a significant decrease of plasma membrane integrity at 100 µmol concentration (55.40% for α-ZOL vs 62.20% for control) after 96 hr incubation. Alpha-ZOL had decreasing effect on sperm motility parameters including curvilinear velocity and average path velocity at 100 µmol concentration after 96 hr storage. Although remarkable reduction of total antioxidant capacity at high concentration of α-ZOL and long incubation time was found, however no significant changes were recorded in NO level during storage time. It was concluded that the detrimental effect of α-ZOL on ram sperm might be attributed to its induced oxidative stress and damage to the plasma membrane.

Keywords

Alpha-zearalenol
Liquid
Ram
Sperm

Subjects

  1.  

    1. Agag BI. Mycotoxins in foods and feeds 3-zearalenone. Ass Univ Bull Environ Res 2004; 7(2): 169-176.
    2. Jimenez M, Mateo R. Determination of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium isolates from banana fruits by capillary gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. J Chromatogr 1997; 778: 363-72.
    3. Vrabcheva T, Gessler R, Usleber E, et al. First survey on the natural Occurrence of Fusarium mycotoxins in Bulgarian wheat. Mycopathologia 1996; 136: 47-52.
    4. Ryu D, Hanna MA, Eskridge KM, et al. Heat stability of zearalenone in an aqueaous buffered model system. J Agri Food Chem 2003; 51: 1746-1748.
    5. Mirocha CJ, Schauerhamer B, Christensen CM, et al. Zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, and T-2 toxin associated with stark rot in corn. Appl Environ Microbiol 1979; 38: 557-558.
    6. Bottalico A, Visconti A, Logrieco A, et al. Occurrence of zearalenols (diastereomeric mixture) in corn stalk rot and their production by associated Fusarium species. Appl Environ Microbiol 1985; 49: 547-551.
    7. Ralston AT. Effect of zearalenone on weaning weight of male calves. J Anim Sci 1978; 47:1203-1206.
    8. Dänicke S, Swiech E, Buraczewska L, et al. Kinetics and metabolism of zearalenone in young female pigs. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr 2005; 89: 268-276.
    9. Malekinejad H, Maas-Bakker RF, Fink-Gremmels J. Enzyme kinetics of zearalenone biotransformation: pH and cofactor effects. Arch Toxicol 2005; 79: 547-553.
    10. Zinedine A, Soriano JM, Moltó JC, et al. Review on the toxicity, occurrence, metabolism, detoxification, regulations and intake of zearalenone: An oestrogenic mycotoxin. Food Chem Toxicol 2007; 45: 1-18.
    11. Richardson KE, Hagler WM, Mirocha J. Production of zearalenone, alpha- and beta-zearalenol by Fusarium spp. in rice. J Agric Food Chem 1985; 33:862-866.
    12. Erasmuson AF, Scahill BG, West DM. Natural zeranol (α-zearalenol) in the urine of pasture-fed animals. J Agr Food Chem 1994; 42:2721-2725.
    13. Jacobsen BJ, Bowen KL, Shelby RA, et al. Mycotoxins and Mycotoxicosis. Alabama cooperative extension system. Tuscaloosa, USA: Alabama University Press 1993; Circular ANR-767.
    14. Barrett KE, Barman SM, Boitano S, et al. Ganong’s review of medical physiology. 25th ed. New York, USA: McGraw-Hill 2016; 389-416.
    15. Giammarino A, Manera M, Robbe D, et al. Influence of mycotoxins on spontaneous contraction in myometrial: Strips of prepubertal lamb. Res Vet Sci 2008; 84(3):471-476.
    16. Tsakmakidis IA, Lymberopoulos AG, Alexopoulos C, et al. In vitro effect of zearalenone and 𝛼-zearalenol in boar sperm characteristics and acrosome reaction. Reprod Dom Anim 2006; 41(5):394-401.
    17. Filannino A, Stout TA, Gadella BM, et al. Dose-response effects of estrogenic mycotoxins (zearalenone, alpha- and beta-zearalenol) on motility, hyperactivation and the acrosome reaction of stallion sperm. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2011; 5;9:134. doi: 10.1186/1477-7827-9-134.
    18. Minervini F, Dell’Aquila ME, Maritato F, et al. Toxic effects of the mycotoxin zearalenone and its derivatives on in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes and 17 beta-estradiol levels in mural granulosa cell cultures. Toxicol In Vitro 2001; 15: 489-495.
    19. Alm H, Greising T, Brussow KP, et al. The influence of the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol and zearalenol on in vitro maturation of pig oocytes and in vitro culture of pig zygotes. Toxicol In Vitro 2002; 16: 643-648.
    20. Salmon S, Maxwell WMC. Storage of ram semen. Anim Reprod Sci 2000; 62: 77-111.
    21. FAO. Improving artificial breeding of cattle and buffalo in Asia guidelines and recommendations. Vienna, Austria: IAEA 2005; 51.
    22.  Green LC, Wagner DA, Glogowski J, et al. Analysis of nitrate, nitrite, and [15N] nitrate in biological fluids. Anal Biochem 1982; 126: 131-138.
    23. Benzie IF, Strain JJ. Ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay: Direct measure of total antioxidant activity of biological fluids and modified version for simultaneous measurement of total antioxidant power and ascorbic acid concentration. Methods Enzymol 1999; 299: 15-27.
    24. Korach KS, Couse JF, Curtis SW, et al. Estrogen receptor gene disruption: molecular characterization and experimental and clinical phenotypes. Recent Prog Horm Res 1996; 51: 59-186.
    25. Hess RA, Bunick D, Lee KH, et al. A role for oestrogens in the male reproductive system. Nature 1997; 390: 509-511.
    26. Luconi M, Forti F, Baldi E. Genomic and nongenomic effects of estrogens: molecular mechanisms of action and clinical implications for male reproduction. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2002; 80: 369-381.
    27. Levin ER. Cell localization, physiology, and nongenomic actions of estrogen receptors. J Appl Physiol 2002; 91: 1860-1867.
    28. Luconi M, Muratori M, Forti G, et al. Identification and characterization of a novel functional estrogen receptor on human sperm membrane that interferes with progesterone effects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1999; 84: 1670-1678.
    29. Baldi E, Luconi M, Muratori M, et al. Nongenomic activation of spermatozoa by steroid hormones: Facts and fictions. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2009; 308(1-2):39-46.
    30. Yanagimachi R. Mechanisms of Fertilization in Mammals. In: Mastroianni L, Biggers JD (Eds). Fertilization and embryonic development in vitro. 1st ed. Boston, USA: Springer 1981; 81-182.
    31.  Larsen L, Scheike T, Jensen TK, et al. Computer-assisted semen analysis parameters as predictors for fertility of men from the general population. Hum Reprod 2000; 15: 1562-1567.
    32. Aitken RJ, Sutton M, Warner P, et al. Relationship between the movement characteristics of human spermatozoa and their ability to penetrate cervical mucus and zona-free hamster oocytes. J Reprod Fertil 1985; 73(2): 441-449.
    33. Mortimer D, Pandya IJ, Sawers RS. Relationship between human sperm motility characteristics and sperm penetration into human cervical mucus in vitro. J Reprod Fertil 1986; 78(1): 93-102.
    34. Mortimer D, Kossakowski J, Mortimer ST, et al. Prediction of fertilizing ability by sperm kinematics. Abstract OC 05-043. J Ass Reprod Genet 1997; 14(5)(Suppl.): 52S.
    35. Malekinejad H, Maas-Bakker R, Fink-Gremmels J. Species differences in the hepatic biotransformation of zearalenone. Vet J 2006;172: 96-102.
    36. Kiang DT, Kennedy BJ, Pathre SV, et al. Binding characteristics of zearalenone analogs to estrogen receptors. Cancer Res 1978; 38(11 Pt 1): 3611-3615.
    37. Zinedine A, Soriano JM, Molto JC, et al. Review on the toxicity, occurrence, metabolism, detoxification, regulations and intake of zearalenone: an oestrogenic mycotoxin. Food Chem Toxicol 2007; 45(1): 1-18.
    38. Minervini F, Dell’Aquila ME. Zearalenone and reproductive function in farm animals. Int J Mol Sci 2008; 9(12): 2570-2584.
    39. Sikka SC, Rajasekaran M, Hellstrom WJG. Role of oxidative stress and antioxidants in male infertility. J Androl 1995; 16(6): 464-468.
    40. Zini A, deLamirande E, Gagnon C. Reactive oxygen species in the semen of infertile patients: Levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase-like activities in seminal plasma and spermatozoa. Int J Androl 1993; 16(3): 183-188.
    41. de Lamirande E, Gagnon C. Impact of reactive oxygen species on spermatozoa: a balancing act between beneficial and detrimental effects. Hum Reprod 1995; 10 Suppl 1: 15-21.
    42. Griveau JF, Le Lannou D. Reactive oxygen species and human spermatozoa. Int J Androl 1997; 20: 61-69.
    43. Shannon P, Curson B. Toxic effect and action of dead sperm on diluted bovine semen. J Dairy Sci 1972; 55: 614-620.
    44. Ball BA, Medina V, Gravance CG, et al. Effect of antioxidants on preservation of motility, viability and acrosomal integrity of equine spermatozoa during storage at 5 ˚C. Theriogenology 2001; 56(4):577-589.
    45. Suzuki N, Sofikitis N. Protective effects of antioxidants on testicular functions of varicocelized Rats. Yonago Acta Medical 1999; 42: 87-94.
    46. Gil-Guzman E, Ollero M, Lopez MC, et al. Differential production of reactive oxygen species by subsets of human spermatozoa at different stages of maturation. Hum Reprod 2001; 16(9): 1922-1930.
Veterinary Research Forum
Volume 9, Issue 2
Spring 2018
Pages 171-178

  • Receive Date 18 April 2018

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us