Negative Effects of Aflatoxin B1 on Bull Sperm

Abstract

Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites that produced by Aspergillus fungi which are soilborne and involved in the decomposition of plant materials in nature. Aspergillus species find opportunity to produce aflatoxins in high humidity and temperature conditions such as tropical and subtropical environment. Therefore, in changing climatic conditions caused by global warming, geographical distribution of these fungi to have changed day by day, and find out an opportunity to grow in different feed materials. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most toxigenic mycotoxin in these group and threatens both human and animal health due to its carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. In cattle, commonly known adverse effects of AFB1 depending on the chronic exposure such as decreasing milk production and quality, reducing the feed efficiency in beef cattle, increase susceptibility to diseases following suppression of the immune system, compromise ruminal functions, disruption of ruminal microorganism growth and functions. In addition, there are limited literatures on adverse effects of AFB1 on the reproduction performance in cattle.

In this study, the negative effects of AFB1 on bull sperm has been examined. Topics such as negative effects of AFB1 on sperm proteomes, increase in the reactive oxygen species, changes in sperm DNA and plasma membrane integrity are discussed.