title: Identification of optimal concentrations and incubation times for the study of in vitro effects of Pb in ram spermatozoa.
abstract: In vitro effects of lead (Pb) on ram (Ovis aries) spermatozoa were studied to establish a threshold level that affects sperm function. Spermatozoa were incubated between 15 and 180 min with Pb concentrations ranging from 0 to 5,000 ng/mL. Sperm motility, acrosome integrity, membrane functionality and sperm viability were all negatively affected by Pb and incubation time. Acrosome integrity was linearly affected by Pb levels at an incubation time of 30 min, and 50 ng/mL was the lowest Pb level producing such effect. These experimental conditions can be appropriate for in vitro studies of the mechanisms of action of Pb on spermatozoa.
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Toxicology Group, National Wildlife Research Institute-IREC UCLM-CSIC-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castellanos
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maroto-Morales
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: García-Álvarez
authors.forename: J Julián
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Garde
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mateo
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D034561:Sheep, Domestic / Q000378:metabolism*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D007854:Lead