Reduced sperm counts in guppies ( Poecilia reticulata ) following exposure to low levels of tributyltin and bisphenol A

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that normal male reproductive function can be disrupted by exposure to pollutants in the environment that can exogenously mimic, antagonize or block sex-hormone function. One possible consequence of exposure to these xenobiotics is disruption to spermatogenesis, but results thus far provide only indirect and inconsistent evidence. In this study we exposed adult male guppies (Poeciliidae: Teleostei) to environmentally relevant levels of the common xenobiotics tributyltin (11.2-22.3 ngl-1) and bisphenol A (274-549 micrograms l-1) in experimental aquaria. After 21 days of exposure, we found significant declines (by 40-75%) in total sperm counts for male fishes exposed to tributyltin and bisphenol A compared with controls. This short-term decline in sperm count is unlikely to be the result of endocrine-mediated alteration of the germ line, and we found no change in testis size or sperm lengths between treatments. However, Sertoli cells, which facilitate the transport of maturing sperm into the testicular deferent duct (where they are stored prior to ejaculation), are directly sensitive to xenobiotic action and it is therefore possible that spermatogenesis was inhibited through in vivo interference with normal Sertoli-cell function.

Spermatogenetic Disorders in Adult Rats Exposed to Tributyltin Chloride during Puberty

“…The TBT chloride treatment also caused histopathological changes such as vacuolization of the seminiferous epithelium, spermatid retention, and delayed spermiation [13]. Haubruge et al [8] reported that an exposure of TBT to adult male guppies caused a significant decline in total sperm counts. The decline in sperm counts by TBT was not due to endocrine-mediated alteration but in vivo interference with normal Sertoli-cell function [8].…”

“…Haubruge et al [8] reported that an exposure of TBT to adult male guppies caused a significant decline in total sperm counts. The decline in sperm counts by TBT was not due to endocrine-mediated alteration but in vivo interference with normal Sertoli-cell function [8]. In the present study, the treatment of TBT at the dose of 20 mg/kg significantly decreased testicular and caudal epidydimal sperm counts.…”

“…There are increasing evidences that normal male reproductive function can be disrupted by exposure to environmental pollutants that mimic or antagonize endogenous sexhormone function [5,8,9]. One possible consequence of exposure to these xenobiotics is disruption to spermatogenesis.…”

Assessing reproductive and endocrine parameters in male largescale suckers (Catostomus macrocheilus) along a contaminant gradient in the lower Columbia River, USA

“…In addition to affecting individuals at any life stage, many environmental EDCs can modify the germ line, resulting in transgenerational impacts to male fertility, as seen with vinclozin, methoxychlor (Anway et al 2005), BDE-99 (Kuriyama et al, 2005), and dioxin (Theobald and Peterson, 1997). Reproductive dysfunction in male fish due to EDC can reduce sperm numbers (Haubruge et al, 2000;Patiño et al, 2003), sperm motility (Jenkins et al, 2009;Lahnsteiner et al, 2006), and fertility (Lahnsteiner et al, 2006). Secondary sex characteristics (Angus et al, 2001;Bayley et al, 2002;Jenkins et al, 2009) and thyroid hormoneresponsive genes (Nourizadeh-Lillabadi et al, 2009) also can be influenced.…”

Pseudobrânquia do guaru Poecilia reticulata (Peter, 1859): análise estrutural, morfométrica e histoquímica para detecção de glicoconjugados

“…A utilização do guaru como espécie sentinela em programas de biomonitoramento tem sido comprovada por diversos autores, tais como nos estudos dos efeitos tóxicos de tributiltina e bisfenol A (Haubruge et al 2000), metais pesados como cloreto de cádmio (Yilmaz et al 2004), disruptores endócrinos como o fungicida vinclozolin, o metabólico do DDT (p,p´-DDE) e o flutamide (Baatrup & Junge 2001), além do octilfenol e 17β-estradiol (Kinnberg et al 2003). Nesse sentido, este trabalho pretendeu descrever a morfologia e os glicoconjugados presentes na pseudobrânquia da espécie bioindicadora Poecilia reticulata (Peter 1859), com o intuito de disponibilizar conhecimentos sobre a estrutura normal desse órgão para análises subcelulares, celulares e histológicas futuras, que utilizarão esta estrutura como biomarcador da poluição aquática.…”