Application of Flow Cytometry to Assess Deepwater Horizon Oil Toxicity on the Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica Spermatozoa

摘要: The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in 2010 resulted the release of millions liters into Gulf Mexico. Dispersants such as Corexit 9500A were used to disperse both at well-head and surface. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons dispersants have been shown deleteriously affect early life stages organisms including oysters. This study examined impacts chemically enhanced water-accommodated fractions [CEWAF; 1.29–26.14 µg/l tPAH50 (a sum 50 different polycyclic hydrocarbons)], high-energy (HEWAF; 16.53–248.89 tPAH50), (0.625–10 mg/l) on cellular functions (viability, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species production (ROS), acrosomal integrity) resulting fertilization success eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica spermatozoa. While viability spermatozoa was not affected by CEWAF HEWAF concentrations tested, dispersant exposure caused significant decrease highest concentration tested. Fertilization well MMP ROS significantly decreased upon CEWAF, HEWAF, dispersants. Also, although exposure, integrity results this suggest that impaired reduced observed after DWH contaminants may result, least partially, from alterations contribute negative effects populations, thus ecology economy