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Objective: To study the effects of aflatoxin on ram epididymal and ejaculatory sperm cells.
Design: Interventional study.
Animals and specimens: 10 Chall rams and 25 isolated
testicles.
Procedure: 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 11) 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
x100, 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.
Results: 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 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 with of 31.25 and 62.6ppb 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. Conclusion: Aflatoxin has detrimental effects on sperm
viability and motility. However, its effect on motility is
more severe. J.Fac. Vet.Med)univ. Tehran. 60,3:259-
264,20t5.