A Study on the Impact of Aflatoxin on Human Reproduction
), Isaiah N Ibeh(2), Flora Oluwafemi(3),
(1)
(2)
(3)
Corresponding Author
Abstract
Infertility among couples in Nigeria is causing increasing concern. Investigations have shown a relationship between abnormalities in spermatozoa/semen parameters and the incidence of male factor mediated fertility problems in couples. However, the factors responsible for the sudden increase in semen/spermatozoa abnormalities are not fully understood. In this study, blood and semen samples were collected from fifty-five adult Nigerians comprising 30 infertile and 25 fertile control individuals, and screened for the presence of aflatoxin using solvent extraction and quantitation by high performance liquid chromatography. Semen parameters such as volume, viscosity, pH, fructose, spermatozoa count, morphology, and motility were determined. Blood and semen aflatoxin levels in infertile men ranged from 700 to 1392ng/ml and 60 to l48ng/ml respectively and these values were significantly higher than the concentrations of the toxin in fertile men (p <0.05). Deviation from normal in semen parameters showed a definite pattern in infertile men. About 37% of the infertile men had aflatoxin in their blood and semen suggesting that aflatoxins may be a contributory factor to the incidence of infertility in Nigerians since the toxin has been shown to produce deleterious effect on the reproductive system. (Afr JReprodHealth 2001; 5[1]:106-110)
Keywords: Aflatoxins, impact, human reproduction, Nigeria
References
Adetoro OO and Ebomoyi EW. The prevalence of infertility in a rural Nigerian community. African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 1991; 20: 23-27.
Rowe PJ, Comhaire FH, Hargreave TB and Melbows HJ. WHO Manual for the Standardized Investigation and Diagnosis of the Infertile Couple. Cambridge University Press, 1993, p. 1-39.
Okonofua FE, Diana H, Odebiyi A, Kare T and Snow R. The social meaning of infertility in southwest Nigeria. Health Transition Review 1997; 7: 205-220.
Okonofua FE and Snow RC. Prevalence and risk factors for infertility inIle-Ife, Nigeria. Technical report submitted to the Ford Foundation, 1995.
Kuku SF and Osegbe ND. Oligo/azoospermia in Nigeria. Archieves of Andrology 1989; 22: 233-237.
Witorsch RJ. Reproductive Toxicology. 2nd edition. New York: Raven Press, 1995, p. 336.
Mati JKG, Ladipo O, Burkman R, Mayaricks R and Huber D (Eds.). Infertility. Reproduction Health in Africa 1984; p. 106- 127.
Osegbe DN. Testicular function after unilateral bacterial epididymoorchitis. Eur-Urol 1991; 19: 204-208.
Nwokolo C and Okonkwo P. Aflatoxins load of common food in savannah and forest regions in Nigeria. Trans Royal Soc Trop Med Hyg 1978; 74: 329-332.
Ibeh IN, Uraih N and Ogonor UI. Dietary exposure to aflatoxin in Benin City, Nigeria: a possible public health concern. International Journal of Food Microbiology 1991; 14: 71-174.
Lamplugh SM. Comparison of three methods for the Extraction of aflatoxins from human serum in combination with a high performance liquid chromatiographic assay. 1983.
Van Egmond HP and Stubblefleld RD. Improved method confirmation of identity of aflatoxins B1 and M1 in diary products and animal tissues. J AssocOfficAna Chem 1981; 64:152-155.
Champana A, De-Agostini A, Bischof P, Tawfik E and Mastrorilli A. Evaluation of Infertility. Human Reproduction Updated 1995; 1: 586-606.
Chang YJ, Mathews C, Mangold K, Marien K, Hendricks J and Bailey G. Analysis of ras gene mutations rainbow trouct liver tumours initiated by aflatoxin B1Molecular Carcinogen 1991; 4:112-119.
Laloutte A, Lablack A, Guenet JL, Montagutelli X and Segretan D. Male sterility caused by sperm cell specific structural abnormalities in Ebouriffe, new mutation of the house mouse. BiolReproduction 1996; 55: 355-363.
Zheng RL and Zang H. Effects of ferrulic acid on fertile and asthenozoospemic infertile human sperm motility, viability, lipid peroxidation and cyclic nucleotides. Free Radio BiolMed 1997; 22: 581-586.
Yamasaki T, Teel RW and Lou BH. Effect of allixin, a phytoalexin produced by Garlic, on mutagenesis, DNA-binding and metabolism of aflatoxin B1. Cancer Letters 1991; 59: 89-94.
Yu F.L, Huang J.X, Bender W, Wu ZR and Chang JC. Evidence for covalent binding of aflatoxin-dichloride to cytosine in DNA. Carcinogenesis 1991; 12: 997-1002.
Topham J. Chemically induced transmissable abnormalities in sperm head shape. Mutation Res 1980; 70: 109-113.
Ibeh IN and Saxena DK. Effect of alpha-tocopherol supplementation on the impact of aflatoxin B1 on the testes of rats. Exp Toxic Pathol 1997; 50: 455-448.
Ibeh IN. Measurement of testicular reduced glutathione and its significance in aflatoxicosis. Nig J Microbiol 1998; 12: 115- 117.
Ozturk M. Mutation in hepato cellular carcinoma after aflatoxins exposure. Lancet 1991; 338: 1356-1359.
Bluenden G, Roch OG, Rogers DJ, Coker RD, Bradburn N and John AE. Mycotoxins in food. Journal of Medical Laboratory Science 1991; 48: 271-282.
Keeler RE and Tu AT (Eds.). Plant and Fungal Toxins. Marcel Dekker Inc., 1983, p. 1-5.
Article Metrics
Abstract View
: 559 timesXML
Download : 418 times
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
