Ex vivo exposure to titanium dioxide and silver nanoparticles mildly affect sperm of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) - A multiparameter spermiotoxicity approach

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2022-04, Vol.177, p.113487-113487, Article 113487
• Main Authors: Carvalhais, A., Oliveira, I.B., Oliveira, H., Oliveira, C.C.V., Ferrão, L., Cabrita, E., Asturiano, J.F., Guilherme, S., Pacheco, M., Mieiro, C.L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Depletion; Exposure; Fish; Gametes; Integrity; Marine fish; Marine fishes; Mitochondrial DNA; Morphometry; Motility; Nanoparticles; Oxidative stress; Quiescent sperm; Reprotoxicity; Short-term exposure; Silver; Sparus aurata; Sperm; Spermatozoa; Sub-lethal effects; Titanium; Titanium dioxide; Vulnerability
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113487

Nanoparticles (NP) are potentially reprotoxic, which may compromise the success of populations. However, the reprotoxicity of NP is still scarcely addressed in marine fish. Therefore, we evaluated the impacts of environmentally relevant and supra environmental concentrations of titanium dioxide (TiO2: 10 to 10,000 μg·L−1) and silver NP (Ag: 0.25 to 250 μg·L−1) on the sperm of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). We performed short-term direct exposures (ex vivo) and evaluated sperm motility, head morphometry, mitochondrial function, antioxidant responses and DNA integrity. No alteration in sperm motility (except for supra environmental Ag NP concentration), head morphometry, mitochondrial function, and DNA integrity occurred. However, depletion of all antioxidants occurred after exposure to TiO2 NP, whereas SOD decreased after exposure to Ag NP (lowest and intermediate concentration). Considering our results, the decrease in antioxidants did not indicate vulnerability towards oxidative stress. TiO2 NP and Ag NP induced low spermiotoxicity, without proven relevant ecological impacts. [Display omitted] •TiO2 NP and Ag NP induced low effects on Sparus aurata sperm quality.•Ag NP decreased sperm total motility at supra environmental levels.•TiO2 NP induced depletion of all the antioxidant response.•Ag NP induced SOD depletion at the lowest and intermediate concentrations.