Decreased survival and teratogenesis during laboratory selenium exposures to bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01689590· OSTI ID:5347928

Woock, S E; Garrett, W R; Partin, W E; Bryson, W T

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) embryo-larval studies using eggs of feral fish from a selenium-contaminated reservoir found low larval survival and teratogenesis when ovarian selenium concentrations were high. Since dietary sources supply most of the selenium that accumulates in fish, the authors hypothesized that reproductive impairment could occur if the dietary concentrations were sufficiently elevated and the chemical form of selenium was equivalent to the form experienced by the fish in the environment. This hypothesis was studied in a partial life cycle test by comparing the effects of chronic dietary exposure of selenomethionine (SeMet) and selenite (Se4+) to bluegill sunfish. They also tested one combination of dietary SeMet and waterborne Se4+. SeMet was selected as the organic form because in a preliminary study its accumulation was most similar to that of naturally occurring selenium in bluegill. Se4+ was selected as the inorganic form because it is the predominant oxidation state in some contaminated cooling reservoirs. The authors demonstrate that for larval bluegill (1) elevated dietary selenium exposure to parent fish causes teratogenesis and decreases larval survival, (2) parental dietary organoselenium is more toxic than dietary inorganic selenium, and (3) the combination of parental dietary, plus waterborne exposure, is more toxic than dietary exposure alone.

• Research Organization: Carolina Power and Light Co., New Hill, NC
• OSTI ID: 5347928
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States) Vol. 39:6; ISSN BECTA
• 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.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DIET
FISHES
LARVAE
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
REPRODUCTION
SELENITES
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
TERATOGENESIS
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION