Rapid aquatic toxicity assay using incorporation of tritiated-thymidine into sea urchin, Arbacia punctulata, embryo: evaluation of toxicant exposure procedures

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5558623

Nacci, D E; Jackim, E

Toxicity of substances in seawater was measured using growth inhibition of embryonic sea urchins during a short period after fertilization. Growth of Arbacia punctulata embryos was monitored by incorporation of tritium-labeled thymidine. The paper presents a comparison of toxicant exposure procedures using the Arbacia embryo thymidine incorporation test. Toxicant exposure began before, at the time of, or after fertilization and continued for 4 h following fertilization. In addition to the eight organic chemicals tested for comparison to acute toxicity values for other species, several chemicals with embryotoxic potentials (tumor promoters and teratogens) were tested to determine differential sensitivities of exposed life-stages: unfertilized egg, fertilization, and early embryo. EC50 values for any one substance were not significantly changed by exposure modification. Toxicity values for exposures that included fertilization as well as early embryo growth were at least as sensitive as post-fertilization exposure values for all compounds tested except one. Because of technical ease and potential sensitivity, toxicant exposure that includes fertilization as well as early embryo growth (but not unfertilized egg exposure) is recommended for future testing.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI (USA). Environmental Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5558623
• Report Number(s): PB-86-184454/XAB; ERLN-632
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560304* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Invertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AZINES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ECHINODERMS
EMBRYOS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
GROWTH
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
INVERTEBRATES
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIGHT NUCLEI
MATERIALS
NUCLEI
NUCLEOSIDES
NUCLEOTIDES
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PYRIMIDINES
RADIOASSAY
RADIOISOTOPES
RIBOSIDES
SEA URCHINS
SEAWATER
THYMIDINE
TOXIC MATERIALS
TOXICITY
TRITIUM
WATER
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES