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(T/EH050) Tributyltin decreases motility and ATP content of fish sperm. Rurangwa, Eugene 1, Skorkowski, Edward2, Ollevier, Frans1, 1 2 ABSTRACT- Tributyltin (TBT) has well known effects in inducing imposex in marine gastropods, but little is known about its effect on the reproduction of teleost fish which may receive similar exposures. Computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) has been used to assess the direct effect of TBT on the spermatozoa of catfish and carp. After 24 h exposure of sperm to 10 ppb TBT, motility was significantly decreased. Since sperm is dependent upon ATP as a source of energy for movement we also examined the effect of TBT on sperm adenylate concentrations. At 10 ppb the concentration of ATP was significantly lower than control while that of AMP was significantly higher. There was no change in TAN or ADP. Our results show that TBT at environmentally realistic concentrations can affect sperm motility by decreasing the ATP content. Key words: Tributyltin, Fish sperm, ATP, CASA |
