Effect of ibuprofen in vivo and in vitro on the sperm quality of the striped catfish Pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum.

Because ibuprofen is a high consumption drug, which has the waters as its final destination, causing alterations in the aquatic environment, specifically in fish. However, there is not enough knowledge about the effect it can have on neotropical fish. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different concentrations of ibuprofen on sperm quality, both in vivo and in vitro, of the striped catfish Pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum, and analyze its effects on the reproduction of this critical extinction endangered species. For this purpose, three groups of fish, with a mean weight of 2.3 ± 0.6 kg and mean total length of 62.9 ± 6.1 cm, were placed in tanks (3 fish/tank) with water at concentrations of 0 (control), 25, and 50 μg/L of ibuprofen for 4 months. For the analysis of sperm quality for each treatment (in vivo), the males were selected in the spermiation phase. Also, the semen from the control group was used for in vitro tests and activated with type I water solutions containing 0, 25, and 50 μg/L of ibuprofen. In the in vivo and in vitro tests, when fish and semen were treated to 50 μg/l, the seminal quality of striped catfish was statistically different from the other treatments. For this study, it was shown that ibuprofen at concentrations of 50 μg/L can cause a significant reduction in sperm quality and, therefore, a threat to the reproduction of P. magdaleniatum.