Sperm abnormalities associated with high copper levels in impala (Aepyceros melampus) in the Kruger National Park, South Africa

The morphology of spermatozoa may be affected by very low concentrations of pollutants in the environment, and sublethal effects of toxic substances c an be detected by studying the sperm of an animal. Sperm were collected fro m 50 impala (Aepyceros melampus) from a conservation area in South Africa a nd studied ultramicroscopically. Thirty-two samples were obtained from anim als close to a copper mine, while 18 represented animals from an unpolluted area and held in captivity. Liver samples from all these animals were anal yzed for their copper content. The findings from 12 animals kept in captivi ty and fed on a diet to which copper was added correlated with the findings from the field study. The general condition of the animals as expressed by the fat content of the bone marrow from the area exposed to copper contami nation was affected detrimentally in comparison to the animals from the unc ontaminated area, High percentages of sperm with neck vacuoles were found i n all animals with high liver copper levels, A statistically significant co rrelation is demonstrated between the percentage of impala sperm with vacuo les in the neck region and the copper concentrations in this group of anima ls. (C) 1999 Academic Press.