Assessment of DNA damage in sperm after repeated non-invasive sampling in zebrafish Danio rerio

Abstract

Repeated non-invasive sampling of zebrafish Danio rerio sperm was conducted, sperm counts were obtained and a method for measurement of DNA damage in sperm was developed and validated (single-cell gel electrophoresis, comet, assay). DNA damage in sperm increased with concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 0-200 μM), and in vitro exposure of sperm to 200 μM H2O2 produced 88·7±3·9% tail DNA compared to unexposed controls [12±0·7% tail DNA (mean±s.e., n=3)]. Frequency of sperm sampling (sampled every 2, 4 or 7 days) did not affect DNA damage in sperm, but sperm counts decreased 57 and 22% for fish sampled every 2 or 4days, respectively. Journal of Fish Biology. © 2013 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.