Effects of cadmium and PCBs on reproduction of the sea star Asterias rubens: aberrations in the early development.

In semifield experiments sea stars, Asterias rubens, were exposed to 25 micrograms Cd/liter or fed with mussels containing 0.6 microgram/g wet wt PCBs (Clophen A50). After 5 months of exposure, Cd concentrations in testes and ovaries were respectively 17 and 50 times higher than those in unexposed sea stars. PCB concentrations were respectively 7 and 9 times higher. With spermatozoa obtained from Cd- or PCB-exposed sea stars, normal fertilization could be achieved. However, maturation of oocytes from Cd-exposed animals was delayed and early development of embryos from Cd- or PCB-exposed animals was disturbed. Due to aberrations during the early development only 24 and 30% of the embryos obtained from Cd- or PCB-exposed sea stars, respectively, had developed to normal bipinnaria larvae after 1 week.