World Leading Hungarian Research Into Relation Between Infertility and Mold

The success of artificial insemination may be influenced by food-borne fungal toxins, according to a new study by Semmelweis University and the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The researchers are the first in the world to demonstrate the presence of toxins produced by molds in human follicular fluid and to investigate their effects on fertility.

The aim of the joint research of Semmelweis University and the Hungarian Agricultural and Life Sciences University (MATE) was to shed light on how mycotoxins affect follicle development and, indirectly, how they affect fertility, according to a statement issued by Semmelweis University on Thursday.

The study involved twenty-five patients in IVF program, whose follicular fluid and blood samples were analyzed for the most common fungal toxins. All the toxins tested were detected in the follicular fluid, even if they were not present or were present at lower concentrations in the blood samples.

Based on the results, it is likely that the fungal toxins present in follicular fluid affect the function of certain hormones, the quality and viability of oocytes and thus fertilization,

explains Apolka Szentirmay, a specialist at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Semmelweis University and author of the study.

“Faced with the specific challenges of obstetrics-gynecology, embryology, toxicology, biotechnology and analytics, our multidisciplinary team has provided a new insight into the exposure of follicular fluid to fungal toxins and its effects on follicular development”, pointed out Zsuzsanna Szőke, senior research fellow at the MATE Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology and co-author of the study.

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by molds that can have toxic properties. They can occur in agricultural crops and processed food of plant and animal origin, and their occurrence and rates are steadily increasing due to climate change. Toxins may also affect the endocrine system, but their effects on human fertility have not yet been investigated.

The cause of infertility is often unknown; it may be due to a disturbance in the hormonal system.

Zearalenone, one of the most common estrogen-like toxins, is also found in maize, and its concentration in the study was found to be related to the oestradiol content of follicular fluid. The results suggest that the two compounds, which have similar chemical structures, potentiate each other by increasing the number of estrogen receptors. Zearalenone can bind to estrogen receptors and reduce the number of mature oocytes that can be fertilized.

Another toxin studied, Fumonisin B1, produced by some Fusarium molds, was reported to have a surprisingly positive effect on the ratio of follicle cells to extracted oocytes when present in low concentrations in follicular fluid. “It is possible that it has some protective function; we know about mold derivatives that we take as medicine in everyday life, such as penicillin,” explains Levente Sára, assistant professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Semmelweis University, another author of the study.

The composition of follicular fluid, the proportion of components it contains, provides important information about follicular maturation. Any negative impact on the medium can directly affect ovulation and pregnancy outcome.

Fungal toxins can be transported from the bloodstream into the follicular fluid, where they can cause inflammation, oxidative stress and hormone disruption,

the research found.

“Our study highlights the role of environmental factors in the development of infertility. Our findings, complemented by further research, may help to unravel some of the causes of infertility and understand exactly how fungal toxins affect female fertility”, emphasized Levente Sára, underlining the need for closer monitoring of fungal toxin contamination in the food chain to reduce risks.

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