The effect of vomitoxin (deoxnivalenol) on testicular morphology, testicular spermatid counts and epididymal sperm counts in IL-6KO [B6129-IL6 (TmlKopf) (IL-6 gene deficient)] and WT [B6129F2 (wild type to B6129-IL6 with an intact IL-6 gene)] mice

The potential of vomitoxin (VT) to affect testicular morphology and testicu lar and epididymal sperm counts was assessed in three strains of mice: IL-6 KO [B6129-IL6 (tmlKopf) (IL-6 gene deficient)], WT [B6129F2 (wild type to B 6129-IL6 with an intact IL-6 gene)] and B6C3F(1) mice in a 90-day feeding s tudy. The treated mice received VT at a concentration of 10 ppm in their di et. The body weight of VT-treated animals was significantly reduced compare d with control animals. Slight changes, not statistically significant, were observed in relative testis weight and testicular spermatid counts. Histol ogical changes were not apparent in the testes of VT-treated animals. The d iameter of the seminiferous tubules, the height of the seminiferous epithel ium and the number of Sertoli cell nucleoli per cross-sectioned seminiferou s tubule in the VT-treated groups were not significantly different from the ir respective untreated controls. The IL-6KO and B6C3F(1) VT-treated mice h ad significantly reduced cauda epididymal weights compared with their respe ctive controls. These changes were not attributed to decreased sperm counts and this finding suggests that VT may exert an adverse affect on the epidi dymis. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.