Examining the Effects of Chronic Selenium Exposure on Traditionally Used Stress Parameters in Juvenile American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)

Finger, Jr., John W.; Hamilton, Matthew T.; Kelley, Meghan D.; Stacy, Nicole I.; Glenn, Travis C.; Tuberville, Tracey D.

doi:10.1007/s00244-019-00626-9

Examining the Effects of Chronic Selenium Exposure on Traditionally Used Stress Parameters in Juvenile American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)

Journal Article · Thu Apr 11 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-019-00626-9· OSTI ID:1821182

^[1]; Hamilton, Matthew T. ^[2]; Kelley, Meghan D. ^[3]; Stacy, Nicole I. ^[4]; Glenn, Travis C. ^[5]; Tuberville, Tracey D. ^[2]

Auburn Univ., AL (United States); Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States); Univ. of Georgia, Aiken, SC (United States); SREL
Univ. of Georgia, Aiken, SC (United States)
Auburn Univ., AL (United States)
Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)
Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States)

Environmental contaminants, such as the trace element selenium (Se), are a continuing concern to species worldwide due to their potential pathophysiological effects, including their influence on the stress response mediated through glucocorticoids (GCs; stress hormones). Environmental concentrations of Se are increasing due to anthropogenic activities, including the incomplete combustion of coal and subsequent disposal of coal combustion wastes. However, most studies examining how Se affects GCs have been focused on lower trophic organisms. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of long-term Se exposure on traditionally used stress parameters and to identify which of these parameters best indicate Se accumulation in liver and kidney of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), a top trophic carnivore found in the southeastern United States and known to inhabit Se-containing areas. Alligators were divided into three dietary treatments and fed prey spiked with 1000 or 2000 ppm selenomethionine (SeMet) or deionized water (control treatment) for 7 weeks. Following the 7-week treatment protocol, blood and tissue samples were obtained to measure plasma corticosterone (CORT; the main crocodilian GC), tail scute CORT, the ratio of peripheral blood heterophils (H) to lymphocytes (L) as H/L ratio, and body condition. To evaluate which parameter best indicated Se accumulation in the liver and kidney, principal component and discriminant analyses were performed. The only parameter significantly correlated with liver and kidney Se concentrations was scute CORT. Furthermore, our results suggest that measurement of CORT in tail scutes, when compared to plasma CORT, H/L ratios, and body condition, is the best indicator of Se-exposure and accumulation in crocodilians.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River Ecology Lab. (SREL)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: FC09-07SR22506

OSTI ID:: 1821182

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1614658

Journal Information:: Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Journal Name: Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 77; ISSN 0090-4341

Publisher:: SpringerCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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