Acute toxicity of anionic surfactants sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS) on the fertilizing capability of gilthead (Sparus aurata L.) sperm

M. Rosety, F.J. Ordóñez, M. Rosety-Rodríguez, J.M. Rosety, I. Rosety, C. Carrasco and A. Ribelles

Department of Morphological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain

Offprint requests to: Prof. Manuel Rsosety, Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Plaza Fragela s/n 11002 Cádiz. Fax: +34 956 015 254. e-mail: manuel.rosety@uca.es

Summary. In the present work we have evaluated and compared the acute toxicity of two anionic surfactants, Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS) and Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonate (LAS) on the fertilizing capability of gilthead Sparus aurata L. sperm. The criterion used to judge exposure effectiveness was fertilization success.
Spawned eggs and sperms were collected from adult giltheads. Sperms were dosed separately with different concentrations of SDS and LAS for 60 minutes. After this period, sperms and eggs were combined for 20 minutes during which fertilization took place. Finally, the number of fertilized eggs were counted and recorded to estimate the percentage of fertilization.
Exposure to SDS and LAS concentrations of 0.3, 0.6, 1.5, 3 and 6 mg/L for 60 minutes caused a significant inhibitory effect on fertilization success in gilthead Sparus aurata L.. In addition, the EC50 value for gilthead fertilization after sperm exposure was found to be 2.8 mg/L and in the case of LAS it was of 2.6 mg/L.
The comparison of the results from SDS and LAS shows that the latter has a stronger negative effect on sperm viability than SDS. Histol. Histopathol. 16, 839-843 (20001)

Key words: Pollution, Surfactant, Sperm, Fertilization, Sparus aurata

DOI: 10.14670/HH-16.839