Table 2.
Descriptive statistics of semen traits (mean values ± standard deviation) at each observation time (0–4 h of incubation). Number of replicates = 10 in each test.
| Morphology (% Spermatozoa with Head Abnormalities) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treatments # | 0 h | 1 h | 2 h | 3 h | 4 h | p * (DMSO vs. Mycotoxin(s) Treatment) |
| DMSO | 9.70 ± 4.69 | 13.30 ± 5.76 | 16.10 ± 5.57 | 21.10 ± 6.57 | 22.40 ± 7.63 | |
| DON | 11.00 ± 6.43 | 13.10 ± 5.65 | 20.80 ± 7.81 | 23.85 ± 9.46 | 24.15 ± 10.23 | |
| ZEN | 25.60 ± 17.48 | 32.00 ± 19.58 | 35.30 ± 21.88 | 36.60 ± 22.19 | 40.60 ± 22.16 | 0.002 |
| DON + ZEN | 31.20 ± 21.81 | 35.10 ± 18.82 | 43.40 ± 20.44 | 43.80 ± 23.99 | 46.70 ± 22.88 | <0.001 |
| Viability (% Live Spermatozoa) | ||||||
| DMSO | 81.70 a ± 7.18 | 78.30 a ± 6.63 | 76.00 a ± 9.12 | 71.00 a ± 16.58 | 67.80 a ± 18.70 | |
| DON | 80.30 a ± 8.45 | 76.80 a ± 8.30 | 71.50 a ± 10.87 | 65.90 a ± 12.15 | 59.70 b ± 15.38 | 4 h: 0.041 ** |
| ZEN | 66.60 b ± 11.34 | 50.20 b ± 12.97 | 37.80 b ± 13.22 | 34.60 b ± 12.77 | 30.80 c ± 12.21 | Each time point: <0.001 ** |
| DON + ZEN | 54.10 c ± 14.69 | 37.00 c ± 9.67 | 27.70 c ± 9.38 | 24.10 c ± 11.13 | 21.80 d ± 10.26 | Each time point: <0.001 ** |
| Hypoosmotic Swelling Test (HOST, % Spermatozoa with Swollen Tails) | ||||||
| 0 h | 1 h | 4 h | p * (DMSO vs. Mycotoxin(s) Treatment) | |||
| DMSO | 22.90 ± 9.81 | 14.90 ± 4.98 | 8.30 ± 2.95 | |||
| DON | 19.80 ± 7.38 | 12.25 ±2.49 | 8.05 ±3.00 | 0.047 | ||
| ZEN | 14.40 ± 5.62 | 8.50 ± 3.41 | 4.40 ± 3.81 | <0.001 | ||
| DON + ZEN | 12.60 ± 4.95 | 8.00 ± 4.55 | 3.60 ± 3.63 | <0.001 | ||
a,b,c,d Mean values with different superscripts in the same column differ significantly (p < 0.05). * When p-values are reported without superscripts in relevant parameter mean values, they refer to statistically significant main effect of treatment (mycotoxin) on the response variable, without significant interaction term treatment × time, thus differences refer to the total observation period. ** When p-values are reported and superscripts (a,b,c,d) are placed in relevant parameter mean values, a statistically significant interaction term treatment × time on the response variable was present, thus differences refer to specific time points (0–4 h of investigation). # Treatments: DMSO = 0.7% (v/v); DON = 50.6 μM; ZEN = 62.8 μM; DON + ZEN = 50.6 μM DON + 62.8 μM ZEN.