Abstract

Florfenicol (FLO) is widely used to treat bacterial respiratory diseases and hoof rot in cattle at various physiological stages. However, residues of FLO that accumulate in cattle may have adverse effects on animal health. Although FLO has been reported to exhibit embryotoxic and cytotoxic properties, the mechanism underlying its effects on bovine granulosa cells (GCs) remains poorly understood. In this study, we treated GCs with FLO at concentrations of 0, 10, and 100 μg/mL for 48 h to evaluate the effects of FLO on cell viability, mitochondrial function, and steroid hormone synthesis. The results showed that FLO treatment was associated with increased apoptosis, reduced GC proliferation, and impaired mitochondrial function. In addition, FLO treatment was accompanied by decreased ATP levels and increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, FLO exposure was associated with changes in PROG and E2 production, decreased protein expression of StAR and CYP11A1, and reduced levels of adenylate cyclase (AC), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and protein kinase A (PKA). The antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) partially attenuated these changes. In conclusion, our findings suggest that FLO exposure is associated with GC dysfunction and impaired steroidogenesis. These effects may be related to oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and alterations in the cAMP/PKA/StAR signaling pathway, although direct causal relationships remain to be further elucidated.