Spermatogenesis, gonadal sperm reserves and fertility of rabbits fed micro doses of fumonisin

Abstract

The effects of micro doses of dietary fumonisin, a metabolite of Fusarium verticillioides, on spermatogenesis, gonadal sperm reserves and fertility of rabbits were studied. Relative paired testis weight; sperm production rate and sperm storage potential were not adversely affected in rabbits which were exposed to varied minute levels of dietary fumonisin of about 153-161 µg/kg body weight/day over a period of 8 weeks. The toxin also failed to exert any influence (P>0.05) on seminiferous tubular diameter and volume percent of testicular elements. Male fertility as evidenced by conception rate, litter size and embryo survival and normalcy was also not affected (P>0.05). However, the frequency of occurrence of stages II and VIII of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium were significantly (P<0.05) influenced with increased dietary fumonisin levels. The results suggest that the ingestion of Fusarium-infected feed that would result in the liberation of about 153 µg of fumonisin/kg of body weight per day for a short time may not influence spermatogenesis, fertility in the male or the normalcy of the resulting foetuses.