Spermatotoxic effect of aflatoxin B1 in the albino mouse

With the background that the foodborne mycotoxin aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) could be toxic to the male reproductive mechanism in man as well as wild and domestic animals, the present study was aimed at finding the effect of AFB(1) on sperm. The Swiss albino mouse was the test animal. AFB(1), suspended in corn oil and ethanol (95:5, v/v), was administered intraperitoneally to 90-day-old mice at a daily dose of 50 mug/kg body weight for 7, 15, 35 and 45 days. The analysis consisted of fertility testing and counts, motility and abnormalities of the cauda epididymidal sperm, adopting light- as well as electron-microscopy. The fertility of the treated mice was reduced drastically. Sperm concentration in the epididymis and sperm motility decreased whereas sperm abnormalities increased. In particular, sperm abnormalities like two axonemes in a common cytoplasm, sticking together of heads/tails, etc., were noted. A higher percentage of cauda epididymidal spermatozoa than in the control mice retained the cytoplasmic droplet (CD) and such retention was dependent on the duration of the treatment. Spermatozoa retaining the CD were inhibited in motility. Sperm CD of AFB(1)-treated mice contained electron-dense spherical inclusions, which are hypothesized as lipid inclusions produced from the larnellae through the spherical vesicles of the CD. The results indicate disruption of the spermatogenic as well as androgenic compartments of the testis by AFB(1). The results also reflect an alteration of epididymal function towards the post-testicular sperm maturation process by AFB(1). (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.