1. METAL CONCENTRATIONS, SPERM MOTILITY, AND RNA/DNA RATIO IN TWO ECHINODERM SPECIES FROM A HIGHLY CONTAMINATED FJORD (THE SØRFJORD, NORWAY).
- Author
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Catarino, Ana I., Cabral, Henrique N., Peeters, Kris, Pernet, Philippe, Punjabi, Usha, and Dubois, Philippe
- Subjects
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SPERMATOZOA , *METALS , *ECHINODERMATA , *CADMIUM , *COPPER , *ZINC , *PROTEIN synthesis , *SPECIES - 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2008
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