搜索结果：Animal reproduction

Plant extracts rich in bioactive compounds, particularly polyphenols, have gained increasing attention in poultry breeder nutrition owing to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties help preserve intestinal integrity and support improvements in gamete quality and embryonic viability. Commercial feed products, such as Elife®, have been developed to incorporate additives, including flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, and phenolic acids, delivering polyphenols in highly bioavailable forms and ensuring effective antioxidant activity. This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with Elife® in brown egg-layer breeders (males and females) on productive and reproductive performance, egg quality, incubation traits, and progeny outcomes. Two experiments were conducted with birds aged from 54 to 70 weeks. In Experiment 1, 30 Rhode Island Red roosters were allocated to the following treatment groups: basal diet without additives (CON); basal diet + 0.5 kg of Elife®/t of feed (E500); and basal diet + 1 kg of Elife®/t of feed (E1000). Body weight, feed intake, and sperm quality were measured in each rooster every 28 days. For Experiment 2, 210 White Plymouth Rock brown egg-layer hens were assigned to the same three treatments as in Experiment 1. Body weight, feed intake, laying rate, egg quality, and incubation parameters were recorded every 28 days. Roosters receiving E1000 showed significantly improved sperm motility and an increased proportion of morphologically normal sperm without affecting feed intake, body weight, or sperm vigor. Hens under E1000 had lower feed intake than controls while maintaining egg quality (P > 0.05). Furthermore, combined parental supplementation with Elife® improved egg hatchability, reduced early embryonic mortality, and increased day-old chick weight. Overall, combined parental supplementation with Elife® demonstrated an effective nutritional strategy for improving fertility, embryonic viability, and chick quality in brown egg-layer breeders.

Biosecurity measures (BSMs) are essential for preventing the introduction and spread of infectious diseases within pig production systems, thereby supporting animal health, welfare, productivity, and responsible antimicrobial use. Numerous BSMs applied on European pig farms are discussed in literature reviews. Hence, a meta-review was conducted to map these BSMs, to highlight knowledge gaps. Eleven reviews covering European pig production systems were identified. Forty biosecurity variables were defined a priori for data extraction and grouped into ten groups covering farm geography and environmental interface, contact control, transport of feed and animals, waste management, personnel and visitor management, feed and stock management, pig management, land and outdoor area management, animal health and care, and hygiene management. The extent to which each BSM was covered across reviews was assessed by experts. Overall, the existing review literature varied widely in scope and methodological approach. Core operational measures such as hygiene, transport, waste management, and animal health practices were frequently reported. However, approximately 50-70% of the reviews provided only limited detail on their implementation. In contrast, measures related to environmental interfaces, land and outdoor area management, and barriers for contact control were among the least represented, with approximately 50-67% assessed as "not mentioned" across the included reviews. A clear knowledge gap was identified regarding BSMs relevant to production systems in which pigs have access to outdoor environments. Findings from this meta-review point to the need for a standardized framework to guide documentation of biosecurity measures across literature reviews.

Gonadectomy, the surgical removal of reproductive organs-is commonly practiced in canine management and is often associated with responsible pet ownership. Although advised for preventing unwanted litter and specific health hazards, its effects on canine behavior remain contentious and little studied. This article analyzes the physiological and behavioral effects of gonadectomy in dogs, emphasizing other sexually dimorphic behaviors including mounting, wandering, and urine marking, alongside aggression, fear, anxiety, separation-related issues, and canine cognitive dysfunction. Gonadectomy impacts hormonal equilibrium by modifying the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axes, hence affecting stress responses, cognition, and behavior. Certain research indicates that neutering diminishes urine marking and roaming; nevertheless, the results are inconsistent. Conflicting research suggests that gonadectomy may intensify aggression, fearfulness, and anxiety, thus undermining the human-animal bond. The effects of gonadectomy on cognitive impairment remain ambiguous. Alternative methods, including vasectomy, ovary-sparing spay, and chemical castration, provide reproductive regulation while maintaining hormonal function, potentially alleviating negative behavioral consequences. Due to the complex aspects of behavioral development, encompassing heredity, environment, and personal experiences, a general policy on gonadectomy is unsuitable. This review highlights the necessity of personalized assessments when advising gonadectomy for behavioral management in canines. Veterinarians must meticulously evaluate the advantages and disadvantages, considering the unique circumstances of each animal and seeking guidance from veterinary behaviorists, as necessary. Routine desexing should not be universally advocated only for the purpose of mitigating behavioral issues. Additional research is crucial to comprehend the intricate link between gonadectomy and canine behavior.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) are major pathogens affecting cattle worldwide, leading to significant economic losses in livestock production systems. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence and dual seropositivity of both viruses in dual-purpose cattle in Villavicencio, Colombia. A total of 1000 serum samples were collected from cattle across 30 farms and analyzed using ELISA. Seroprevalence for BVDV ranged from 0.0% to 78.7%, while BoHV-1 ranged from 0.0% to 100.0%. Dual seropositivity with both viruses was observed at the farm level, ranging from 0.0% to 52.2%. At the herd level, 26.7% (8/30) of the farms were seronegative for BVDV (95% CI: 14.2-44.5%), whereas only 3.3% (1/30) were seronegative for BoHV-1 (95% CI: 0.6-16.7%). Additionally, seven farms (23.3%) were simultaneously seronegative for both BVDV and BoHV-1. Overall, the findings demonstrate widespread exposure and non-random concurrent seropositivity of both viruses, highlighting the importance of herd management, biosecurity, and animal movement in shaping infection dynamics in dual-purpose cattle systems. Management practices, animal movement, and environmental factors were significantly associated with seropositivity.

Advanced methodologies for Botryllus schlosseri artificial seawater systems are needed to decrease dependency of large-scale culture on natural seawater and expand this important new model organism to more inland laboratories. We constructed two botryllid tunicate customized closed aquaculture systems, a static system consisting of aerated jars fed commercial filter feeder diet, and a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) consisting of pertinent marine RAS components fed live microalgae and zooplankton diets. Initially, static tunicate culture yielded exponential growth in contrast to poor survival and negligible growth observed in RAS tunicates. RAS modifications were made to increase water treatment proficiency, which improved tunicate survival and growth. Experiments were performed isolating feed and water type as variables differentiating static and RAS and evaluating their specific effects. Live feed promoted five-fold greater growth relative to a commercial concentrate diet. Tunicates maintained in optimized RAS water achieved two-fold faster growth relative to animals in freshly prepared artificial seawater. Subsequent procedural modifications combined with the RAS revisions resulted in growth rates comparable to the static system. Both optimized systems are suitable for long-term husbandry of botryllid tunicate populations supporting both sexual and asexual modes of reproduction, with a current RAS residence time of over 24 months.

Coral gastrovascular cavities (GVCs) host diverse microorganisms and, as semi-closed compartments, are characterized by elevated nutrient concentrations and pronounced diel fluctuations in oxygen (O2) and pH. However, their broader chemical microenvironment and associated microbial activities remain poorly understood. Here, we provide direct evidence for active anaerobic metabolism in the GVC of Astraeosmilia curvata by measuring hydrogen (H2), nitric oxide (NO), and nitrous oxide (N2O) production, indicative of microbial fermentation and denitrification. Changes in GVC H2 concentrations in Astraeosmilia curvata and Goniastrea sp. after food particle ingestion suggest that coral feeding activity modulates substrate availability, which in turn influences microbial activity in this compartment. In bleached A. curvata corals, the GVC remained consistently hypoxic and acidic, and anaerobic metabolic processes persisted across the diel cycle, whereas in healthy corals, the GVC became hyperoxic under light, and anaerobic metabolism was suppressed. These patterns suggest a shift in energy and nutrient cycling pathways within the bleached coral holobiont. Amplicon sequencing and PICRUSt2-based functional predictions revealed that the shifts in bacterial community composition correlated with microenvironmental chemical gradients, including the enrichment of putative denitrifying taxa (Alcanivoracaceae, Xanthobacteraceae) in polyps exhibiting elevated NO concentration, alongside predicted metabolic pathways involved in nitrogen and hydrogen metabolism. Together, our findings identify the GVC as a dynamic site of microbial activity that may play an important role in holobiont carbon and nitrogen cycling, with potential implications for nutrient balance and coral resilience. Understanding interactions among the coral animal host, Symbiodiniaceae, and associated bacteria within specific coral compartments is essential for elucidating the underlying mechanisms affecting the ecophysiology of reef-building coral holobionts, both under ambient and environmental stress conditions. However, most studies in the literature have focused on studying coral-microbe interactions at larger spatial scales, and especially the gastrovascular cavity (GVC) of corals remains underexplored despite its key role in coral processes, such as prey digestion, circulation of resources between polyps, sexual reproduction, and as the pathway for algal symbiont expulsion and colonization. By combining microsensor profiling with microvolume sampling and molecular analysis of the gastrovascular cavity, this study demonstrates strong chemical dynamics in single coral polyps, where spatio-temporal changes in O2 availability enable active fermentation and denitrification within the GVC. Our findings suggest that the GVC is a hotspot of both aerobic and anaerobic microbial metabolism, with potential importance for energy and nutrient cycling in the coral holobiont.

Mitochondrial distribution and activity are closely associated with cytoplasmic maturation and developmental competence in mammalian oocytes; however, limited information is available regarding these processes in Vicugna pacos. This study aimed to characterize mitochondrial activity, aggregation, and distribution patterns in immature and in vitro mature Vicugna pacos oocytes. Mitochondrial fluorescence intensity ranged from 21.2 to 126 units, with mean values decreasing from grade I to IV. No significant differences were observed between immature (66.8 ± 22.7) and mature (59.2 ± 23.5) oocytes. Three distinct distribution patterns were identified: homogeneous non-peripheral (HoNP), heterogeneous peripheral (HeP), and heterogeneous non-peripheral (HeNP), with HeNP oocytes exhibiting the highest activity. During maturation, fluorescence intensity increased in HeNP and HeP but decreased in HoNP, suggesting distinct mitochondrial responses. Aggregation shifted from smooth in immature oocytes to granular in mature ones, and these two traits-HeNP distribution and granular aggregation-were consistently associated with higher mitochondrial activity. Overall, 78% of oocytes showed aggregation. These results demonstrate that mitochondrial remodeling accompanies oocyte maturation and that aggregation and distribution patterns may serve as biomarkers of oocyte quality. Further studies linking these features with fertilization and embryo development are needed to validate their predictive role in assisted reproduction of alpacas.

Resistance to sulfonamides (SULs) and trimethoprim (TMP) in Escherichia coli threatens their clinical relevance. Beyond known resistance mechanisms, little is understood about the cellular responses that enable resistant E. coli to grow under these antibiotic stresses. This study aimed to identify genes that support bacterial growth under SUL and TMP stress. Two saturated transposon mutant libraries were constructed in resistant E. coli MG1655 harboring either dfrA1 or sul2. They were grown with and without 1/2 and 1/4 minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) or TMP, and mutant depletion was assessed via transposon-directed insertion-site sequencing. At 1/2 MIC, 36 and 89 genes were identified as conditionally essential during SMX and TMP exposure, while 5 and 2 genes were classified as conditionally essential at 1/4 MIC. Genes identified as conditionally essential at 1/4 MIC were also important at 1/2 MIC. Conditionally essential genes belonged to lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, peptidoglycan metabolism, energy production, membrane integrity, phosphate metabolism, and stress responses, highlighting the role of these factors in maintaining cell stability under SMX and TMP stress. Validation with 10 conditionally essential genes (apaH, mtn, surA, waaO, nlpI, prc, wzxE, fadR, degP, and tpiA) showed that deletion mutants indeed exhibited growth defects and two- to eightfold reductions in MIC under antibiotic stresses compared to their parent strains. This study highlights cellular responses to SMX and TMP under antibiotic stress, and it has identified a list of genes whose products may serve as potential helper drug targets to resensitize resistant E. coli to SMX and TMP treatments. Sulfonamides (SULs) and trimethoprim (TMP) are broad-spectrum antimicrobials. They are commonly used to treat infections in both humans and animals. Resistance against SUL and TMP is widespread in pathogenic bacteria, and there is a need to overcome this problem. One possibility is to target the cellular mechanism by which the resistant bacteria adapt to growth in the presence of the antimicrobials. In this study, we identify the genes, besides the resistance genes, which enable resistant Escherichia coli to grow in the presence of SUL and TMP. We further show that knocking out many of these genes attenuates the resistant E. coli for growth during SUL and/or TMP stress, irrespective of which SUL- or TMP-resistant gene the bacteria carry. The gene products of these genes may serve as potential helper drug targets to resensitize resistant E. coli to sulfamethoxazole and TMP treatments.

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a common genetic disorder of syndromic bone fragility manifesting in types with variable skeletal and extraskeletal severity. Over the past decades, the deforming types have almost exclusively received all scientific attention, leaving large knowledge gaps about the prevalent osteogenesis imperfecta type 1. However, studies within the past 5 years reveal serious unrecognized aspects of disease burden in this large patient population that contrast with osteogenesis imperfecta type 1's widely adopted classification as mild osteogenesis imperfecta. These patients present distinct clinical and molecular features, necessitating personalized clinical approaches and dedicated research. To our knowledge, this Review addresses this distinct patient group by recognizing the diverse facets of clinical burden, genetic landscape, bone pathophysiology, disease models and emerging treatment options. Owing to their later diagnosis, disease invisibility, increased mobility and uncharted clinical course compared with patients who have other types of osteogenesis imperfecta, these patients and their treating physicians face distinct healthcare and diagnostic challenges. In contrast to other patients with osteogenesis imperfecta with broader genetic causes, they are primarily characterized by molecular uniformity in the form of collagen type I deficiency. The scarcity of animal and cell models has also contributed to the lack of initiatives to explore osteogenesis imperfecta type 1. This Review aims to break this vicious cycle of osteogenesis imperfecta type 1 obscurity by defining knowledge gaps that future investigations of this disease should aim to address.

Recent discussion has emphasized the need for more precise frameworks for describing sex. Sexes are a type of within-species phenotypic variation and treating them as such offers a valuable perspective across levels of scientific inquiry. I propose that phenotypic polymorphism-the presence of distinct morphs within a species-provides an especially relevant framework for studying sexes as a form of variation. Although sexes are themselves a type of polymorphism, they are rarely described in these terms. Drawing on examples from diverse taxa, I demonstrate that the mechanisms underlying the production and adaptive maintenance of polymorphisms are the same as those that produce sexes. No genetic, developmental, or evolutionary principle distinguishes sexes from other polymorphisms. I further highlight cases in which polymorphisms play as central a role to reproduction as sexes, underscoring how a polymorphism-based approach can capture the diversity of reproductive strategies while improving conceptual frameworks. By treating sexes as a form of phenotypic variation, the polymorphism perspective clarifies that sexes are a population-level trait, and that existing tools for analyzing variation within and across species can be used for a more descriptive and empirical understanding of reproductive types and their evolution.

The growing global demand for ethical, resource-efficient protein sources has renewed serious interest in cultured meat as a viable alternative to conventional livestock production. Two revolutionary biotechnological systems, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) reprogramming and CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing, when combined, offer unparalleled accuracy and scalability for the biofabrication of avian flesh. In this review, we present a comprehensive pipeline that involves the ectopic expression of Yamanaka factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc) to reprogram primary somatic cells derived from Gallus gallus into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This process is subsequently followed by targeted genome editing to enhance myogenic potential, growth efficiency, nutritional composition, and disease resistance. iPSCs are cultivated in a xeno-free bioreactor following genome editing, and subsequently directed to develop into myoblasts and mature myotubes. Three-dimensional tissue biofabrication is realized by combining biomaterial scaffolds and perfusion bioreactor systems, structuring an authentic muscle tissue matrix. These engineering platforms enable precise control over microenvironmental parameters, including oxygenation and nutrient perfusion. The resulting biofabricated poultry product is compositionally optimized, free of antibiotic residues, and exhibits a significantly reduced environmental footprint than poultry that is grown in the traditional way. This all-in-one solution solves important problems in food security, animal welfare, land use efficiency, and greenhouse gas emissions while also setting up a scalable biomanufacturing framework for making proteins for the next generation.

Toxoplasmosis remains a major global health concern, particularly in immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women, while currently available therapies are associated with significant toxicity and limited efficacy against chronic infection. Drug repurposing represents an attractive strategy for the identification of safer and more effective anti-Toxoplasma gondii agents. This study investigated the antiparasitic potential of loratadine, a second-generation antihistamine, using an integrated in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approach. The anti-T. gondii activity of loratadine was evaluated through β-galactosidase-based proliferation assays, reversibility assays, and experiments using pretreated tachyzoites. In vivo efficacy was assessed in murine models of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis. Disease progression, survival, parasite burden, and cerebral cyst formation were analyzed following treatment. Loratadine inhibited the intracellular proliferation of T. gondii tachyzoites in a concentration-dependent manner and induced partially irreversible effects on parasite viability after drug withdrawal. Pretreatment of extracellular tachyzoites produced limited effects, suggesting that loratadine predominantly acts during the intracellular stage of infection. In the acute toxoplasmosis model, loratadine treatment delayed disease progression, prolonged animal survival, and significantly reduced the number of tachyzoites recovered from the peritoneal cavity. In the chronic infection model, treatment significantly decreased both the number and size of cerebral cysts, although these findings do not demonstrate cyst eradication or direct bradyzoite killing. Despite its measurable biological activity, loratadine exhibited a relatively low in vitro selectivity index, highlighting the need for further optimization. These exploratory findings identify loratadine as a promising lead compound (hit) for further optimization rather than an immediately translatable therapeutic candidate. Additional medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetic, mechanistic, and confirmatory preclinical studies will be required to determine its potential for anti-T. gondii drug development.

Understanding the physiological regulation of cardiac activity in insects remains a central topic in insect biochemistry and physiology. In Lepidoptera, direct electrophysiological characterization of cardiac function is still limited, particularly under anesthetic conditions commonly used during experimental manipulation. In this study, we evaluated the effects of isoflurane anesthesia on cardiac electrophysiology in adult Anteos menippe butterflies during anesthetic induction and recovery. A total of eighteen newly emerged adults were subjected to two experiments. Experiment 1 - behavior during anesthetic induction and recovery with isoflurane (n = 6). Experiment 2 - the animals were divided into a control group (n = 6) and a group treated with isoflurane (n = 6). The animals were monitored during anesthetic induction and recovery with isoflurane; in this case, electrocardiographic signals (ECG) were obtained using 0.06 mm diameter tungsten steel alloy electrodes, implanted to acquire cardiac recordings lasting 30 min under controlled conditions. Isoflurane induced mild and reversible anesthesia, with induction and recovery times of 48.5 ± 8.9 s and 117.7 ± 16.2 s, respectively, without observable excitatory responses. During anesthesia, the frequency of cardiac action potentials decreased significantly, followed by a gradual recovery accompanied by increases in amplitude and linear signal power. Spectral analysis revealed a dynamic redistribution of energy during anesthetic elimination, consistent with chronotropic modulation of cardiac activity. These findings provide new electrophysiological insights into the cardiac physiology of butterflies and support the use of isoflurane as a reliable anesthetic for experimental studies involving cardiac monitoring in lepidoptera and other insects.

The Wadi sheep (WAD) is a unique Chinese indigenous breed previously reported to show adaptation to humid and saline-alkali lowlands, disease resistance, high fecundity, and favorable meat quality. However, the recent widespread introduction of commercial sheep breeds has led to a sharp decline in the purebred WAD population, posing serious threats to the preservation of its unique genetic resources. Therefore, there is an urgent need to assess the current population structure and genetic diversity of WAD to support its conservation and sustainable utilization. In this study, we systematically analyzed genomic variation, population structure, and selection signatures using whole-genome resequencing data from 30 WAD sheep and 80 publicly available genomes representing five other breeds obtained from the NCBI database. Population genomic analyses revealed that WAD retains substantial genetic diversity and exhibits a distinct population structure, shaped by its unique breeding history. Selection signature analyses using FST, π ratio, and XP-EHH identified 457 candidate genes under positive selection, which are associated with key biological processes including environmental adaptation, immune defense, muscle traits, growth, and reproduction. These findings identify genomic regions potentially related to reported WAD traits and provide a theoretical basis for its conservation, molecular breeding, and sustainable utilization in lowland environments.

The 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) showed how genetic mutations can alter coronavirus characteristics. However, the evolution of livestock coronaviruses remains understudied. We analyzed 15 bovine coronavirus (BCoV), three porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (PHEV) and 18 porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV) isolates, mainly from Belgian livestock collected between 2020 and 2023. Spike gene phylogenetic analysis showed nucleotide substitution rates comparable between BCoV and PRCV, while PHEV appeared slower. Unlike severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), synonymous substitutions were preferred, limiting amino acid variation across decades in the animal coronaviruses. Virus neutralization assays with swine antisera indicated minimal antigenic change in PHEV and PRCV. Recent BCoV isolates showed antigenic divergence from the classical Mebus vaccine strain. The impact of this divergence on vaccine efficacy may warrant further research. Our findings underscore the need for periodic surveillance, as changes in surface proteins may affect pathogenicity, tissue tropism, host range and vaccine efficacy.

The objective of this study was to estimate (co)variance components and genetic parameters for litter size at birth (LSB), litter size at weaning (LSW), and kid mortality from birth to weaning in Markhoz goats. Data were obtained from the Markhoz Goat Breeding Station in Sanandaj, Iran, and comprised 3439 records for LSB and LSW and 4087 records for kid mortality, collected over a 21-year period. Birth year and dam age had significant effects on LSB and LSW (P < 0.05), while birth year, dam age, birth type, and sex significantly affected kid mortality (P < 0.05). Genetic analyses for LSB and LSW were performed using linear and Poisson models, whereas linear and probit models were applied to mortality. Model performance was evaluated using predictive ability and goodness-of-fit statistics based on mean squared error of prediction and correlations between observed and fitted values. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.02 to 0.04 for LSB, 0.02 to 0.05 for LSW, and 0.16 to 0.35 for mortality. Estimated random effects, breeding values, and permanent environmental effects were highly correlated across models. For LSB, the linear model outperformed the Poisson model; for LSW, both models showed a similar fit, although the linear model had better predictive ability. For mortality, the linear model showed superior predictive performance, although the probit model uniquely identified maternal genetic and common litter effects. Overall, linear models are recommended for accurate animal ranking, whereas the probit model is preferred when the objective is to partition variance in binary traits into direct genetic, maternal, and litter components.

Mycotoxins are a worldwide hazard to animal feed and capable of deleterious effects on poultry. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of an anti-mycotoxin feed additive on productive and reproductive parameters of breeder hens and roosters fed diets experimentally contaminated with zearalenone (ZEN). A total of 288 hens and 32 roosters (Cobb 500) were randomly distributed in one of four dietary treatments, with nine hens and a rooster per pen and eight pens per treatment: control (C); C + anti-mycotoxin (AM) additive; C + ZEN; and C + AM + ZEN. The trial lasted from 28 to 65 weeks of age. Egg production, egg quality, fertility, hatchability, and hatch rates of fertile eggs were evaluated, as were sperm morphology and abnormalities, and chick quality. ZEN inclusion did not affect egg production but had harmful effects on albumen, egg quality and weight, eggshell thickness, egg fertility and hatchability, and chick length and quality, compared to C, with this negative effect partially alleviated by AM inclusion. Both AM and ZEN, however, decreased spermatic concentration, without affecting sperm morphology or abnormality. The anti-mycotoxin additive effectively mitigated the deleterious effects of ZEN on reproductive parameters and egg quality indexes when fed to breeder hens.

Fumonisins, a class of mycotoxins produced primarily by Fusarium fungi, pose significant health risks to humans and animals through contamination of the food and feed chains. They rank among the most prevalent mycotoxins contaminating maize and maize-derived feeds worldwide, resulting in chronic dietary exposure of both humans and livestock populations across many regions. Their core mechanism of action is the inhibition of ceramide synthases (CerS), which disrupts the essential balance of sphingolipid metabolism by causing an accumulation of free sphingoid bases and a depletion of complex sphingolipids. Both sphingolipids and steroidogenesis are metabolically linked to mitochondrial, membrane and kinase-cascade mechanisms; hence this metabolic disruption may consequently affect steroid hormone biosynthesis, triggering toxicity phenotypes marked by impaired gametogenesis hormonal imbalances, and compromised pregnancy outcomes across mammalian species. Despite the established link between fumonisins and sphingolipid disruption, there is a gap in the literature, as no study to date has integrated sphingolipid disruptions with steroid hormone levels in a dose-dependent manner within reproductive tissues in vivo. This review synthesizes current scientific knowledge across mammalian species to highlight the risks fumonisins pose to reproductive physiology and to identify directions for future research.

Accelerating eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems worldwide has increased concern regarding cyanotoxin exposure as an emerging environmental and public health issue, with Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) among the most extensively studied congeners due to its widespread occurrence and high toxicity. Evidence from experimental animal and cellular studies indicates that MC-LR elicits pronounced toxic impacts on both the male and female reproductive systems. In males, MC-LR induces overt testicular injury, compromises the structural and functional integrity of the blood-testis barrier, and triggers severe disorders in reproductive hormone synthesis and secretion. In females, it precipitates ovarian dysfunction, impedes normal follicular maturation and development, and induces distinct embryotoxic effects. The underlying pathogenic mechanisms involve the synergistic interplay of multiple signaling pathways, primarily including oxidative stress induction, aberrant apoptosis activation, endocrine disruption, and epigenetic modifications. Of particular significance, emerging evidence suggests that parental exposure to MC-LR may induce intergenerational or potentially transgenerational reproductive effects through epigenetic modifications in germ cells, impairing fertility and developmental outcomes in subsequent offspring and thus posing a sustained, long-term threat to population-level health. This review systematically delineates the reproductive toxicity profiles and underlying molecular mechanisms of MC-LR, evaluates its transgenerational health hazards, and aims to furnish robust scientific evidence for the formulation of targeted environmental health policies and risk management strategies.