Impact of Marine Drugs on Animal Reproductive Processes

Abstract

The discovery and description of bioactive substances from natural sources has been a research topic for the last 50 years. In this respect, marine animals have been used to extract many new compounds exerting different actions. Reproduction is a complex process whose main steps are the production and maturation of gametes, their activation, the fertilisation and the beginning of development. In the literature it has been shown that many substances extracted from marine organisms may have profound influence on the reproductive behaviour, function and reproductive strategies and survival of species. However, despite the central importance of reproduction and thus the maintenance of species, there are still few studies on how reproductive mechanisms are impacted by marine bioactive drugs. At present, studies in either marine and terrestrial animals have been particularly important in identifying what specific fine reproductive mechanisms are affected by marine-derived substances. In this review we describe the main steps of the biology of reproduction and the impact of substances from marine environment and organisms on the reproductive processes.

Okadaic Acid Meet and Greet: An Insight into Detection Methods, Response Strategies and Genotoxic Effects in Marine Invertebrates

“…Yet, OA can also fulfill useful roles in several organisms primarily as a defense mechanism against pathogens and parasites [64]. This is indeed the case of the marine sponge Suberites domuncula harboring bacteria containing OA.…”

A multi-bioassay integrated approach to assess antifouling potential of extracts from the Mediterranean sponge Ircinia oros

“…In general, all I. oros ’ extracts showed negative effects on sperm kinematics (motion characteristics), even if not concentration dependent. Many substances extracted from marine organisms have been shown to have a profound influence on the reproductive behaviour and strategy’s function (Silvestre and Tosti 2009 ). Considering the percentage of sperm progressive motility, negative concentration-dependent effects were caused by all extracts.…”

Ladder-Shaped Ion Channel Ligands: Current State of Knowledge

“…BTX also evokes embryostatic effects and failures of differentiation in the medaka O. latipes [ 156 , 157 , 158 ] and in the larvae of the northern quahog, Mercenaria mercenaria ; eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica ; and bay scallop, Argopecten irradians [ 159 ]. No direct data exist with regards to the coupling of these effects with the activity of ion channels, although it is the most probable mechanism.…”