Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) is an indole tetrameric acid mycotoxin. This study carried out to investigate the potential effects of CPA on male reproductive system. In the current study, 40 adult male mice were divided into five groups (n = 8). The control group did not expose to CPA, while animals in vehicle-received group; received the CPA-solvent (0.05% dimethyl sulfoxide) and the animals of third, fourth, and fifth groups received CPA 0.03, 0.06, and 0.12 mg/kg, body weight, respectively for 28 days. Morphometric and morphological deviations, spermatogenesis indices, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, total thiol molecules (TTM) concentration, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), protein carbonylation rate (CO), and nitric oxide (NO) concentration were examined. The expression changes of apoptotic genes (P53, Bcl-2, and Caspase III) at mRNA level were also evaluated by qPCR technique. Reduction in the Leydig and Sertoli cells population, diameter of seminiferous tubules, and spermatogenesis parameters was significant only in the group that received the highest dose of CPA. An increase in the level of MDA, NO, and CO in testicular tissue and reduction of TAC and TTM were observed in the CPA-exposed groups. Significant up-regulation (p < .05) in the expression of P53 and Caspase III genes and down-regulation of Bcl-2 gene were found in the CPA-received groups. These results are indicating the detrimental effects of CPA on the testicles, which may attribute to the CPA-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis. Moreover, results also help to understand a serious concern about the presence of CPA in foods as a potential risk factor in male-related infertility.

中文翻译：

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环吡嗪酸在小鼠睾丸中诱导 p53 依赖性细胞凋亡：另一个与男性相关的不育风险因素

环吡嗪酸 (CPA) 是一种吲哚四聚酸霉菌毒素。本研究旨在调查 CPA 对男性生殖系统的潜在影响。在目前的研究中，40 只成年雄性小鼠被分为五组 (n = 8)。对照组不接触CPA，而接受媒介物组的动物；接受 CPA 溶剂（0.05% 二甲基亚砜），第三、第四和第五组的动物分别接受 CPA 0.03、0.06 和 0.12 毫克/千克体重，持续 28 天。检查形态和形态偏差、精子发生指数、丙二醛 (MDA) 含量、总硫醇分子 (TTM) 浓度、总抗氧化能力 (TAC)、蛋白质羰基化率 (CO) 和一氧化氮 (NO) 浓度。凋亡基因（P53、Bcl-2、和 Caspase III) 在 mRNA 水平上也通过 qPCR 技术进行了评估。Leydig 和 Sertoli 细胞群、生精小管直径和精子发生参数的减少仅在接受最高剂量 CPA 的组中显着。在 CPA 暴露组中观察到睾丸组织中 MDA、NO 和 CO 水平的增加以及 TAC 和 TTM 的减少。在接受 CPA 的组中发现 P53 和 Caspase III 基因的表达显着上调 (p < .05) 和 Bcl-2 基因的下调。这些结果表明 CPA 对睾丸的不利影响，这可能归因于 CPA 诱导的氧化应激和细胞凋亡。此外，结果还有助于理解食品中存在 CPA 作为男性相关不孕症的潜在风险因素的严重担忧。