[Effect of various heavy metals on the ATP content of spermatozoa from Arbacia lixula L.--activity of mercury].
This work reports the evaluation of some toxic effects induced by mercury on sea urchin sperm. Spermatozoa of the sea urchin Arbacia lixula L., were treated with 0.003, 0.03 and 0.06 mg/l of Hg. We estimated the amount of ATP of sperm cells with the luciferin-luciferase reaction, and we also observed motility, fertilizing activity and number of sperm bound to the eggs. The results clearly show that ATP levels are strongly affected by mercury concentrations, already three hours after the beginning of treatment. We propose the use of ATP determination in sea urchin sperm as a bioassay, because they, even more than eggs and developmental stages, readily suffer the environmental stresses.
Castagna
A
A
Istituto di Biologia Generale, Università di Catania.
Sinatra
F
F
Zafarana
S
S
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D012617:Sea Urchins / Q000187:drug effects*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*
D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate