The objective of our study was to investigate the effects of heavy metals on the fertilizing capacity of exposed zebrafish sperm, on embryonic survival, and on occurrence of embryonic deformities following fertilization with exposed sperm. It is important to test heavy metals because they are well-known pollutants. Sperm of externally fertilizing species can get in contact with pollutants found in aquatic environment. Zebrafish sperm, despite its advantages, has seldom been used in in vitro toxicological studies and no reports are available regarding the fertilizing capacity of exposed sperm. Zebrafish sperm was stripped and exposed to concentrations of the tested heavy metals (Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Hg²⁺, As³⁺) for 30 or 120 minutes. Calculated half-maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) values do not differ significantly from those calculated for motility for any of the tested heavy metals, which means fertilization rate can indicate the toxicity of the given substance following exposure of sperm. Thus, its application as in vitro toxicological end point is reasonable. The survival of embryos and embryonic development have not been affected by the exposure of spermatozoa, which means all alterations in spermatozoa caused by heavy metals have been expressed before 24 hours post fertilization.

我们研究的目的是研究重金属对裸露的斑马鱼精子的受精能力，胚胎存活以及受精子受精后胚胎畸形的影响。测试重金属非常重要，因为它们是众所周知的污染物。外来受精物种的精子可以与水生环境中发现的污染物接触。尽管斑马鱼的精子有其优势，但很少用于体外毒理学研究，也没有关于裸露的精子受精能力的报道。剥去斑马鱼的精子，使其暴露于所测试的重金属（Zn 2 ⁺，Cd 2 ⁺，Cr ³⁺，Cu 2 ⁺，Ni ²⁺，Hg 2 ⁺，As ³⁺）处理30或120分钟。计算出的半数最大有效浓度（EC ₅₀）值与任何一种测试重金属的运动性计算值均无显着差异，这意味着受精率可以指示给定物质暴露于精子后的毒性。因此，其作为体外毒理学终点的应用是合理的。暴露于精子中并不会影响胚胎的存活和胚胎发育，这意味着受精后24小时之前已经表达了由重金属引起的精子中的所有改变。