Effects of different concentrations of aflatoxin B on ram epididymal and ejaculatory sperm viability and motility in vitro

ABSTRACT

To study the effects of aflatoxin on ram epididymal and ejaculatory sperm cells. Interventional study. 10 Chall rams and 25 isolated testicles. Chall ram testicles [n=25] were obtained from slaughter-house, cauda epididymides were incised, sperm samples were isolated and put into media with increasing concentrations of Aflatoxin B. Ejaculates were obtained from 10 healthy Chall rams and the same procedure was assigned. Every hour sperm cells were objected to live-dead staining using eosin - nigrosin procedure and examined under an optic microscope at magnification of xl00, Motility was also assessed in the same time using warm slide glass and magnification of x 10-40. Statistical analysis: ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test. While after one hour incubation viability of ejaculatory and epididymal sperm cells were 81.25 and 83.24%, when aflatoxin was added [7.81, 31.25 and 62.6 ppb] these values drastically reduced back [p<0.05] in a concentration dependent manner for both epididymal [72.92, 71.8 and 66.72%] and ejaculatory [72.48, 69.6 and 63.63%] sperm cells. During 5 h incubation, viability decreased moderately in all groups. However differences among groups remained unchanged. Furthermore, epididymal sperm motility in the 1st h incubation was significantly higher [p<0.05] than those values in treatment with of 31.25 and 62.6 ppb aflatoxin [51.87 and 15.93%]. Ejaculatory sperm motility was 93.98% control group [93.98%] was significantly higher than those values in treatment with of 31.25 [52.09%] and 62.6 [18.09%] ppb aflatoxin. In spite of differences among groups, values were more apparent for epididymal sperm. Aflatoxin has detrimental effects on sperm viability and motility. However, its effect on motility is more severe