Metal concentrations, sperm motility, and RNA/DNA ratio in two echinoderm species from a highly contaminated fjord (the Sørfjord, Norway)

Environ Toxicol Chem. 2008 Jul;27(7):1553-60. doi: 10.1897/07-402.

Abstract

The present study evaluated the effects of field metal contamination on sperm motility and the RNA/DNA ratio in echinoderms. Populations of Asterias rubens and Echinus acutus that occur naturally along a contamination gradient of sediments by cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in a Norwegian fjord (the Sørfjord) were studied. Sperm motility, a measure of sperm quality, was quantified using a computer-assisted sperm analysis system. The RNA/DNA ratio, a measure of protein synthesis, was assessed by a one-dye (ethidium bromide)/one-enzyme (RNase), 96-well microplate fluorometric assay. Although both species accumulate metals at high concentrations, neither sperm motility parameters in A. rubens nor the RNA/DNA ratio in both species were affected. The Sørfjord is still one of the most metal-contaminated marine sites in Europe, but even so, populations of A. rubens and E. acutus are able to endure under these conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asterias / chemistry*
  • Asterias / drug effects
  • DNA / analysis*
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Geologic Sediments / chemistry
  • Male
  • Metals, Heavy* / analysis
  • Metals, Heavy* / toxicity
  • Norway
  • RNA / analysis*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sea Urchins / chemistry*
  • Sea Urchins / drug effects
  • Species Specificity
  • Sperm Count
  • Sperm Motility / drug effects*
  • Spermatozoa / chemistry
  • Spermatozoa / cytology
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects*

Substances

  • Metals, Heavy
  • RNA
  • DNA