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ABSTRACT
The effect of aflatoxin on reproductive health takes a systematic approach as it indicates that a significant number of people living in the third world regions are exposed to these toxins due to the poor storage of grains. Since it is food borne it may pose not only health hazards but also serious debilitating reproductive anomalies as seen in this study. Twenty four Adult male Wister rats were acclimatized and divided into four groups, Test Group one (Two weeks exposure), Group Two ( four weeks exposure), Group Three ( Six weeks exposure) and Group Four (Negative Control Group) with no exposure. The Test Group 1, 2 and 3 were orally administered 7.2g/kg (LD50) of Aflatoxin M1 for the desired weeks of exposure and the sperm cell quality was assessed to determine the effect of Aflatoxin M1 on sperm cell quality in Adult male Wister rats while group 4 was given food and water only. The predetermined level of sperm cell quality is its ability to be motile as the motility of the sperm cell determines its viability. Group three had the highest presence of sluggishly immotile cells with very low progressive motility, followed by group, two and one, 37.5+ 9.97, 55.00+9.91, and 71.67+3.07 as against the control groups 85.8+2.17 with the highest significance at the group three which showed an extended exposure of aflatoxin M1 (p<0.05). The total sperm cell count dropped drastically across the study groups exposed to aflatoxin M1 which explains the increased toxic concentration of aflatoxin M1 in the semen. Group three hard the lowest sperm cell count, which signifies oligozoospermia of 140.0+25.69 (x106cells/mm3). This study links infertility and aflatoxin consumption, as the higher the doses the more increased levels of spermatotoxicity is built which invariably could lead to azoospermia. These toxins are readily consumed on grains and staple foods like Garri, Corn and Groundnuts, they thus may pose a potential threat affecting reproductive health as seen in most developing countries where aflatoxin M1 causes a chronic toxicity due to the uncontrollable exposure through dietary routes.
