Influence of environmental related concentrations of heavy metals on motility parameters and antioxidant responses in sturgeon sperm

The effects of heavy metals (Cd, Cr and Cd + Cr) on the motility parameters and oxidative stress of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) sperm were investigated in vitro. Sturgeon sperm were exposed for 2 h to heavy metals at environmental related concentrations (0.1 mg L−1 Cr, 0.001 mg L−1 Cd, 0.1 mg L−1 Cr + 0.001 mg L−1 Cd) and higher concentrations (5.0 mg L−1 Cr, 0.05 mg L−1 Cd, 5.0 mg L−1 Cr + 0.05 mg L−1 Cd). Results revealed that environmental concentrations of heavy metals had no significant influence on motility parameters and antioxidant responses indices in sturgeon sperm, except for LPO level and SOD activity. But higher concentrations of these metals induced oxidative tress in sturgeon sperm in vitro, associated with sperm motility parameters inhibition. Our results suggest that using of sperm in vitro assays may provide a novel and efficiently means for evaluating the effects of residual heavy metals in aquatic environment on sturgeon.