Sperm Motility and Morphology as Monitors of Endocrine Disruption

It is now clearly established that a wide range of xenobiotics can affect reproductive function of vertebrates, either by direct toxic effects or by disruption of the endocrine system. To monitor such effects we have examined the action of a number of xenobiotics on the motility and morphology offish sperm using Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA). Techniques of CASA adapted to fish sperm will be described. Our recent studies have shown that motility can be decreased after exposure of sperm to mercury and tributyltin (TBT).