To explore the protective mechanism of l-arginine against T-2 toxin-induced oxidative damage in mouse Leydig cells, Leydig cells were isolated and cultured with control, T-2 toxin (10 nM), l-arginine (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mM), and T-2 toxin (10 nM T-2 toxin) with l-arginine (0.25, 0.5, or 1.0 mM) for 24 hours. Cells and supernatants were harvested to examine cell viability, activities, and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and DNA damage. Results showed that T-2 toxin significantly reduced cell viability, improved MDA content and DNA damage, and decreased activities and mRNA expression of GSH-Px, SOD, and CAT. However, l-arginine reduced T-2 toxin-induced oxidative damage and tended to maintain normal levels. Furthermore, l-arginine upregulated mRNA expressions of GSH-Px, SOD, and CAT. Collectively, l-arginine, due to its antioxidative ability, could ameliorate T-2 toxin-induced cytotoxicities in mouse Leydig cells by regulating oxidative stress.

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The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of T-2 toxin on semen quality, fertility and serum testosterone concentration in mice. Adult male mice were mated with sexually mature untreated female mice after being exposed to intraperitoneal injection of T-2 toxin at 0, 5, 10 or 15 mg/kg body weight daily for 7 successive days. Semen quality, serum testosterone concentration and fertility of treated mice were assessed. The results showed that the number of abnormal spermatozoa increased significantly and a significant decrease in spermatozoa with integrated acrosome was observed in males treated with T-2 toxin at all doses, As well, the amount of live spermatozoa decreased significantly in mice treated with 10 and 15 mg/kg body weight T-2 toxin. Low pregnancy rate and high fetal resorption rate were observed when females were mated with T-2 toxin-exposed males. Testicular and cauda epididymal sperm counts, efficiency of sperm production and serum testosterone concentration were significantly reduced in mice treated with T-2 toxin at all doses in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, these findings indicated that T-2 toxin presented toxic effects on reproductive system of adult male mice.

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