Assessment of tebuconazole exposure on bovine testicular cells and epididymal spermatozoa

Abstract This study is the first to investigate effects of tebuconazole (TEB) on physiological functions bovine testicular cells and epididymal spermatozoa. Motility plasma membrane integrity spermatozoa exposed TEB (0.001–100 µM) were evaluated at different incubation times (0–6 h), while TEB-induced spermiotoxicity was assessed after 24 h in cell cultures. Testicular cells, obtained from parenchyma testes, seeded 1.0 × 10 4 1.5 6 cells/well 96- 12-well culture plates incubated for 48 media containing evaluate cytotoxicity hormone release, respectively. did not affect motility integrity. However, significant occurred higher (1–100 concentrations ( P < 0.05) compared control lower doses. Although no dose caused > 0.05), 1 100 µM a increase testosterone secretion 0.05). As result, high doses had slightly suppressive spermatozoa; however, these stimulatory by cells. It appears that disruption hormonal homeostasis exposure may result metabolic especially reproductive adverse bulls.