Biological (molecular and cellular) markers of toxicity

Technical Report · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5346682· OSTI ID:5346682

McCarthy, J. F.

The objectives of this research are to evaluate the Japanese Medaka as a model for prediction of potential health effects from environmental contaminants. Progress to date has concentrated on efforts to describe the molecular and biochemical events resulting from exposure to a well-characterized model carcinogen, diethylnitrosamine (DEN). There are two goals underlying this approach. Fundamental understanding of the molecular and biochemical events underlying the carcinogenesis process in Medaka may make it possible to employ these responses as biomarkers estimate exposure and predict cellular effects of genotoxic chemicals. Thus, it may be possible to determine if an individual chemical, or waste effluent from Department of Defense facilities, poses a health threat based on exposure of Medaka to the contaminant for the short time required for the biomarker to respond, rather than for the six months required to evaluate a histopathological effect. More fundamentally, critical evaluation of the molecular carcinogenesis process in Medaka provides a foundation for using this convenient and cost-effective animal model for more directly extrapolating to human health effects, based on pharmacodynamic models. Before this approach could be accepted, it is necessary to demonstrate the molecular, biochemical and cellular events in carcinogenesis are similar in fish and humans. If the results of this research support such a conclusion, a later task of this project involves development of a pharmacodynamic model for extrapolating human health effects from bioassays using the Japanese Medaka. 1 fig., 4 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOD; DOE/EH
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5346682
• Report Number(s): ORNL/M-948; ON: DE90002746
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AMINES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS
BODY
CARCINOGENS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DOCUMENT TYPES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
FISHES
GLANDS
LIVER
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
NITROSAMINES
NITROSO COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PROGRESS REPORT
VERTEBRATES