الفهرس 
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Abstract
To date, the negative impact of zearalenone (ZEN; potent estrogenic mycotoxin) exposure on buffalo embryo production has not been determined. In the current study, ZEN was cocultured with buffalo sperm or oocytes during maturation at different concentrations. Sperm (with and without ZEN exposure) were incubated for 2 h and evaluated for motility, viability, acrosome intact, normality, and ultrastructure. Matured oocytes exposed to ZEN were stained to determine the nuclear maturation, and their developmental ability was examined after in vitro fertilization.
Our results showed the toxic effects of ZEN for different sperm parameters of buffalo sperm at high concentrations (2000 ng/mL). Of note, the number of acrosome-intact sperm was reduced at 0 h after exposure to ≥ 100 ng/mL. Furthermore, the maturation rate of buffalo oocytes (telophase I+ metaphase II) was significantly decreased in ZEN-treated oocytes with a higher degeneration rate.
Oocytes matured in 1000 ng/mL ZEN resulted in a considerable reduction of cleavage rate and blastocyst formation (2.6%, versus 13.1% control). Moreover, the morula rate was decreased (P < 0.001) in ZEN exposed oocytes at different concentrations ≥10 ng/mL.
Overall, these results defined the adverse effect excreted by the in vitro ZEN exposure on buffalo sperm parameters and meiotic progression of oocytes with a notable reduction in cleavage, morula, and blastocyst rates. Altogether, buffaloes should be considered as one of sensitive animals to ZEN exposure on the reproductive function.