Differential testicular toxicity of deoxynivalenol: insights from juvenile and adult mice

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin that contaminates approximately 60% of food worldwide and can impair reproduction. Although puberty represents a critical window of susceptibility to toxic insults, the effects of DON exposure during this period remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of DON on testicular structure, oxidative status, inflammatory responses, and sperm parameters in prepubertal and adult mice. Sixty mice were assigned to either a control diet or a DON-contaminated diet (10 mg/kg feed) and evaluated under two experimental regimens defined by developmental stage and exposure duration: prepubertal mice exposed for 15 days and adult mice exposed for 28 days. Testicular morphology and morphometry, caspase-3 immunohistochemistry, oxidative stress biomarkers, inflammatory profile, daily sperm production, and sperm morphology were assessed. DON induced morphological and morphometric alterations in the testes under both experimental regimens. The treatment altered the seminiferous epithelial cycle, reducing the proportion of tubules in stages VII–VIII. Caspase-3 expression was not affected by the treatment. DON impaired antioxidant defenses in both experimental regimens, as evidenced by reduced FRAP values and ABTS radical scavenging activity. Increased superoxide production was observed exclusively in prepubertal mice. The treatment increased the number of macrophages and IL-1β levels, whereas adult mice exhibited elevated TNF-α concentrations. In adults, DON reduced daily sperm production and increased sperm abnormalities. These findings demonstrate that both prepubertal and adult mice are susceptible to DON-induced reproductive toxicity.