title: Metal concentrations, sperm motility, and RNA/DNA ratio in two echinoderm species from a highly contaminated fjord (the Sørfjord, Norway).
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.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Evora, Departamento de Biologia, 7002-554 Evora, Portugal. ana.catarino@ulb.ac.be
authors.forename: Ana I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Catarino
authors.forename: Henrique N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pernet
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Punjabi
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubois
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047271:Asterias / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D009664:Norway; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012617:Sea Urchins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D013045:Species Specificity; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA