Effect of aluminum silicate on the spermatozoa, plasma membrane and seminiferous tubules of mice exposed to fusarium graminearum (Sordariomycetes: Hypocreales: Nectriaceae)

This study was conducted to determine the effect of aluminum silicate on the quality of sperm, plasma membrane and seminiferous tubules of mice exposed to the fungus Fusarium graminearum. Twenty-five healthy, 8-10 week old, 20-25 g, BALB/c adult male mice were used. They were divided equally into five groups: negative control (C-) was not given F. graminearum and aluminum silicate; positive control (C+) received 0.5 ml F. graminearum suspension (228 × 108 spores/ml) but without aluminum silicate. Treatments 1, 2, 3 were each given the same amount of fungus and aluminum silicate with doses 0.5 mg (T1), 1 mg (T2), and 2 mg (T3) for 21 days. Testes and spermatozoa were obtained from the epididymal duct to examine for the said parameters. Motility (%) was highest in C-, but not significantly different from T3 (P>0.05). Viability (%) was highest in C-, which was significantly different with all treatments (P<0.05), T3 was not significantly different from T2 and T1 (P>0.05). Meanwhile, abnormalities (%) were highest in C+, and significantly different from all treatments. Plasma membrane integrity was highest in C-, but not significantly different from T3. Likewise, seminiferous tubule quality was highest in C- but lowest in C+. All parameters, except the latter, were lowest in C-. Results of the study suggest that using aluminum silicate can maintain the quality of sperm in mice exposed to F. graminearum.