Aluminum at environmental concentrations affects the sperm quality of the freshwater teleost Astyanax altiparanae: An in vitro study

Author(s)

de Assis, Cecilia Bertacini ^[1] ; Moreira, Renata Guimaraes ^[1] ; Branco, Giovana Souza ^[1] ; Pinheiro, Joao Paulo Silva ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Metab & Reprod Aquat Organisms LAMEROA, Inst Biociencias, Dept Fisiol, Rua Matao, Trav 14, 101, Cidade Univ, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C-TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY; v. 243, MAY 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Aluminum (Al) is present in rivers and reservoirs in concentrations above that is allowed by regulatory agencies (e.g. 0.5 mg L-1 Al), which can impair fish reproduction. The present study evaluated the in vitro effects on the sperm of Astyanax altiparanae upon Al exposure at different concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mg L-1) with various exposure periods (50 s, 10 min, and 30 min). The following biomarkers were evaluated: membrane vitality, DNA fragmentation, morphology, kinetics (10 s and 30 s after sperm activation), and sperm mitochondrial activity. Al damages the membrane vitality of gametes at 0.3 and 0.5 mg L-1 after 50 s of exposure. After 30 min of exposure, there was a decrease in membrane vitality at 0.1 and 0.5 mg L-1, and the membrane vitality decreased with increased exposure time. Within 30 s after sperm activation, Al (0.3 and 0.5 mg L-1) reduced sperm motility by more than 50% at the longest exposure time, while at 0.1 and 0.5 mg L-1, Al exposure reduced motility over time. The average path speed (VAP; 10 s post-sperm activation) was reduced at longer exposure times at 0.05 and 0.5 mg L-1 of Al. Increased exposure time had deleterious effects on mitochondrial activity at the highest concentrations tested. Al did not damage DNA and sperm morphology. In conclusion, Al negatively influences the sperm quality of A. altiparanae with a potential effect of exposure time and increasing concentrations. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/16320-7 - Impacts of climate/environmental change on the fauna: an integrative approach
• Grantee: Carlos Arturo Navas Iannini
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/02103-5 - Effects of exposure to different times and aluminum concentrations on the spermatic parameters of lambari-do-rabo-amarelo, Astyanax altiparanae (Teleostei: Characiformes: Characidae)
• Grantee: Cecilia Bertacini de Assis
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation