<i>Phoenix dactylifera</i> Pollen Grains mitigates Aflatoxin B1-induced Reproductive Dysregulation in rabbit bucks: Effects on Physio-Metabolic Pathways, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Pyroptosis in Rabbit Bucks

Abstract Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent mycotoxin known to impair reproductive function in humans and animals. Given the reported health benefits of Phoenix dactylifera pollen grains (DPP) due to their rich composition of bioactive compounds, this study investigates the potential protective effects of DPP supplementation against AFB1-induced reproductive toxicity in rabbits. Thirty-two mature rabbits were randomly assigned to four groups (n=8 per group) for two months: control (basal diet), AFB1 (0.3 mg AFB1/kg diet), DPP (300 mg DPP/kg diet), and AFB1+DPP (0.3 mg AFB1/kg + 300 mg DPP/kg diet). The study focused on evaluating changes in blood biochemistry, testicular histopathology, semen quality, adipokine profiles, markers of oxidative stress and immune modulation, and the expression of inflammatory and pyroptosis-related genes. Results indicated that AFB1 exposure significantly disrupted metabolic pathways in the blood, characterized by elevated liver enzymes, impaired kidney function, and decreased serum protein levels ( p &lt;0.05). Concomitantly, AFB1 exposure led to significant deterioration in semen quality, accompanying with decline in immune and antioxidant markers, and reduced testosterone levels ( p &lt;0.05). Additionally, AFB1 exposure leads to oxidative stress, DNA damage, and pyroptosis. This is demonstrated by elevated levels of adipokines and DNA damage markers, along with increased expression of genes associated with pyroptosis, specifically NLRP3, GSDMD, Caspase-1, and IL-18 ( p &lt; 0.05). Notably, DPP supplementation significantly mitigated the adverse effects of AFB1 by modulating metabolic pathways and its effectively reversed AFB1-induced testicular histopathological changes, bolstered immune and antioxidant responses, preserved DNA integrity, modulated pyroptosis, and reduced inflammation, ultimately leading to improved semen quality. These findings indicate that DPP has a protective effect against AFB1-induced infertility in rabbits, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent