{"id":37874,"date":"2025-03-11T00:01:26","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T04:01:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=37874"},"modified":"2025-03-10T13:59:08","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T17:59:08","slug":"study-finds-spermiotoxicity-and-impacts-on-male-mammal-fertility-with-ipconazole-fungicide-exposure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2025\/03\/study-finds-spermiotoxicity-and-impacts-on-male-mammal-fertility-with-ipconazole-fungicide-exposure\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Finds Spermiotoxicity and Impacts on Male Mammal Fertility with Ipconazole Fungicide Exposure"},"content":{"rendered":"

(<\/span>Beyond Pesticides<\/span><\/i>, March 11, 2025) A study in <\/span>Toxics<\/span><\/i><\/a> analyzes <\/span>ipconazole<\/span><\/a>, a triazole fungicide often used as a coating on treated seeds and as a foliar treatment on the leaves of plants. \u201cTriazole pesticides are widely used throughout the world, but their abuse causes toxic effects in non-targeted organisms,\u201d the researchers state. In the current study, unintended reproductive effects are noted in male sheep (ram) and pigs (also known as porcine or swine). This research focuses on the impact of ipconazole exposure on spermatozoa (sperm) in two mammal species and finds spermiotoxicity through significantly reduced sperm viability, as well as alterations in enzyme and gene expression related to fertility.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of the triazole ipconazole on mammalian spermatozoa,\u201d the authors share. This analysis utilizes semen samples from the Reproductive Biotechnology Laboratory of the Major National University of San Marcos in Lima, Peru, the university where six of the nine researchers are Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe sperm were exposed to ipconazole concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 \u00b5M, and to a control without ipconazole,\u201d they say. Similar concentrations have been used in previous cytotoxicity studies with ipconazole. One, a <\/span>2023 <\/span>Toxics<\/span><\/i> study<\/span><\/a>, finds reduced cell viability, oxidative stress, and cell death, specifically in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, that suggests ipconazole exposure as a factor for <\/span>neurotoxicity<\/span><\/a> and neurodegeneration.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The study evaluated a range of cell functions to determine adverse health outcomes. The latest <\/span>Toxics<\/span><\/i><\/a> study utilized sperm viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (critical to the central nervous system), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (an enzyme critical to the regulation of oxygen), and catalase activity assays, as well as an analysis of gene expression through <\/span>qPCR<\/span><\/a> (which stands for quantitative polymerase chain reaction and is a technology used for measuring DNA).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a result of the experiment, the authors report: \u201cIpconazole led to a significant decrease in cell viability and a significant increase in ROS generation, as well as several changes in catalase and SOD activity. It also altered the molecular expression of structural and <\/span>oxidative stress<\/span><\/a> biomarkers in spermatozoa of both species.\u201d\u00a0 The alterations in the molecular mRNA expression of structural biomarkers include PRM1, ODF2, AKAP4, THEG, SPACA3, and CLGN, which are related to fertility in males.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIpconazole-induced oxidative stress has been <\/span>demonstrated experimentally<\/span><\/a> in vitro and in vivo,\u201d the researchers note. They continue: \u201cData from this study suggests that ipconazole is able to alter the oxidative state by inducing ROS production and reducing or increasing the activity of the antioxidant enzymes SOD and catalase in porcine and ram spermatozoa. Overall, the oxidative effect (ROS generation) of ipconazole was higher in porcine spermatozoa than in ram spermatozoa, even reaching up to 3 times higher ROS levels compared to the control group.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The authors also relay that there was an overexpression of BAX (cell death) and ROMO1 (oxidative stress) mRNA, which shows the ability of ipconazole to cause <\/span>epigenetic<\/span><\/a> changes in mammals. Overall, these results indicate that \u201cthe fungicide triazole is involved in cellular, enzymatic and molecular alteration of porcine and ram spermatozoa, and is possibly a factor in the development of infertility in male mammals,\u201d they conclude.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Previous research finds triazole pesticides cause various health effects in terrestrial and <\/span>aquatic<\/span><\/a> nontarget organisms including <\/span>humans<\/span><\/a> and wildlife. Other pesticide classes are also documented as impacting sperm and fertility. Relevant results highlighted in the current study include:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n