TY - JOUR T1 - Effects of Alexandrium minutum exposure on nutrition-related processes and reproductive output in oysters Crassostrea gigas A1 - Haberkorn,Hansy A1 - Lambert,Christophe A1 - Le Goic,Nelly A1 - Moal,Jeanne A1 - Suquet,Marc A1 - Gueguen,Marielle A1 - Sunila,Inke A1 - Soudant,Philippe AD - Univ Bretagne Occidentale, CNRS, Lab Sci Environm Marin, Inst Univ Europeen Mar, F-29280 Plouzane, France. AD - Ifremer Ctr Brest, Lab Physiol Invertebres, F-29280 Plouzane, France. AD - Ifremer Stn Expt Argenton, Lab Physiol Invertebres, F-29840 Argenton, France. AD - Ifremer Ctr Nantes, Lab Phycotoxines, F-44311 Nantes, France. AD - Bur Aquaculture, Dept Agr, Milford, CT 06460 USA. UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2010.01.003 DO - 10.1016/j.hal.2010.01.003 KW - Harmful algae KW - Alexandrium minutum KW - Oyster KW - Nutrition-related processes KW - Reproductive output N2 - This study assessed the effects of an artificial bloom of the toxin-producing dinoflagellate, Alexandrium minutum, upon nutrition related processes and reproductive output of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. Oysters were exposed to A. minutum, Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PST) producer and compared to a control batch of oysters fed Isochrysis galbana clone Tahitian (T.Iso). The experiment was performed in June 2008, when oysters were found ripe. Several physiological variables of oysters, such as PSTs accumulation, digestive gland and histological observations as well as spermatozoa quality, were measured at the end of the exposure. Results indicate that the digestive gland was greatly impacted upon A. minutum exposure. Monoacylglycerol and diacylglycerol contents as well as phospholipids (mainly phosphatidylcholine) drastically decreased in the digestive gland of oysters exposed to A. minutum compared to control oysters. At the same time, many oysters exposed to the harmful microalga presented a strong inflammatory response in different tissues of the digestive gland: in intestine as well as in digestive ducts and tubules. Spermatozoa in oysters exposed to A. minutum were morphologically and functionally modified compared to spermatozoa of control oysters. Indeed, spermatozoa were less motile and had lower ATP content in oysters exposed to A. minutum. Meanwhile, spermatozoa produced by control oysters showed higher percentage of mortality and relative DNA content than those produced by A. minutum exposed oysters. Finally, the characteristics of the mitochondria of spermatozoa also appeared to be modified upon A. minutum exposure. The results of this study suggests that an exposure of oysters to A. minutum, reducing energy status and motility of spermatozoa associated to morphological changes at the cellular and sub-cellular levels, can have consequences on spermatozoa fertility and reproduction success. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Y1 - 2010/06 PB - Elsevier Science Bv JF - Harmful Algae SN - 1568-9883 VL - 9 IS - 5 SP - 427 EP - 439 ID - 11927 ER -