F Bonyadi - Department of Basic Sciences, Section of Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
SH Hasanzadeh - Department of Basic Sciences, Section of Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
GHR NAJAFI - Department of Basic Sciences, Section of Anatomy and Embryol-ogy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
H Malekinejad - Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran

Background: Mycotoxins are secondary active metabolites, which are produced by different species of fungi. Cyclopio-sonic acid (CPA) is an indole tetrameric acid mycotoxin which is found in various nutrients (Meat, milk and eggs). This study was aimed to investigate the potential effects of CPA at differ-ent dose levels on the sperm quality parameters and fertility rate in mice.Materials and Methods: Forty adult male mice were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=8). The control group did not receive any treatment. In the control-sham, animals received daily 0.05% DMSO (as the CPA solvent) intraperitoneally (i.p.). In the third, fourth and fifth groups, animals received 0.3, 0.6 and 0.12 mg/kg, BW of CPA (i.p.), respectively for 28 days. At the end of treatment period, sperm quality parameters, sperm dam-age and the fertility rate were evaluated.Results: CPA exposure for 28 days resulted in a significant reduction in sperm count, sperm motility, sperm survival and chromatin quality. At the same time, CPA elevated the percent-age of sperms with damaged DNA. Reduced fertilization rate, two-cell embryos (%), blastocysts (%) and hatching embryos(%) were recorded in the CPA-received animals compared to the control group.Conclusion: The detrimental effects of CPA as reproductive toxicity, may attribute to the alterations in sperm parameters and in vitro fertility rate reduction. Therefore, the presence of CPA in foodstuffs alone and/or along with other mycotoxins could have negative effects on the male fertility factors.

Cyclopiazonic Acid, In Vitro Fertilization, Mice, My-cotoxin, Sperm