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Infertility in Males01:23

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Male infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, arising from various factors that impact different stages of the reproductive process. An endocrine imbalance resulting from conditions like hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, or pituitary disorders can disrupt hormone levels and reduce sperm production. Testicular defects, such as tumors, cryptorchidism, atrophic testes, abnormal sperm morphology, and low sperm count or motility, may arise due to genetic factors, structural...
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The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
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During fertilization, an egg and sperm cell fuse to create a new diploid structure. In humans, the process occurs once the egg has been released from the ovary, and travels into the fallopian tubes. The process requires several key steps: 1) sperm present in the genital tract must locate the egg; 2) once there, sperm need to release enzymes to help them burrow through the protective zona pellucida of the egg; and 3) the membranes of a single sperm cell and egg must fuse, with the sperm...
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Fluorimetric Techniques for the Assessment of Sperm Membranes
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Aflatoxin B1 impairs sperm quality and fertilization competence.

A Komsky-Elbaz1, M Saktsier1, Z Roth1

  • 1Department of Animal Sciences, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University, Rehovot 76100, Israel.

Toxicology
|November 9, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure negatively impacts bull sperm viability, mitochondrial function, and DNA integrity. This mycotoxin exposure also reduces fertilization competence and early embryonic development, highlighting risks to male fertility.

Keywords:
Acrosome reactionAflatoxin B1BlastocystEmbryonic developmentMitochondrial membrane potentialSperm

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Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Toxicology
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Aflatoxins, produced by Aspergillus fungi, contaminate various food staples like maize and wheat.
  • Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent carcinogen and mutagen, with its effects on sperm function being less understood.
  • Understanding AFB1's impact on male gametes is crucial for assessing reproductive health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the toxic effects of AFB1 on bull sperm viability, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial function, and DNA fragmentation.
  • To evaluate the impact of AFB1 exposure on sperm's fertilization competence and early embryonic development in vitro.
  • To determine dose-dependent responses of sperm parameters to varying concentrations of AFB1.

Main Methods:

  • Bull spermatozoa from ejaculate and epididymis were capacitated in vitro with different AFB1 concentrations (0-100μM).
  • Acrosome reaction, plasma membrane integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) were assessed using fluorescent staining.
  • Sperm DNA fragmentation was evaluated using a Halosperm DNA fragmentation kit, and fertilization/embryo development was assessed using bovine oocytes.

Main Results:

  • AFB1 exposure significantly reduced sperm viability and impaired mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in a dose-dependent manner.
  • Exposure to AFB1 decreased the acrosome reaction rate in epididymal sperm and increased DNA fragmentation in ejaculated sperm.
  • AFB1-exposed sperm showed reduced cleavage rates of fertilized embryos, though blastocyst development rates were not significantly affected.

Conclusions:

  • Aflatoxin B1 exerts detrimental effects on sperm quality, including viability, mitochondrial function, and DNA integrity, compromising fertility potential.
  • AFB1-induced paternal DNA fragmentation may negatively influence early embryonic development.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the impact of AFB1 on blastocyst quality derived from exposed sperm.