Embryotoxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in the ring-necked pheasant

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620120710· OSTI ID:5811374

Nosek, J A; Craven, S R ^[1]; Sullivan, J R ^[2]; Gendron-Fitzpatrick, A ^[3]; Peterson, R E ^[4]

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1. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Dept. of Wildlife Ecology
2. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
3. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Research Animal Veterinarian and Research Animal Resource Committee
4. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). School of Pharmacy and Environmental Toxicology Center

Fertilized eggs of ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were injected into the albumin or yolk with vehicle or graded doses of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), on day 0 of embryonic development and toxicity was assessed in 1-d-old hatchlings and 28-d-old chicks. The most sensitive effect of in ovo TCDD exposure was induction of hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity in 1-d-old hatchlings. The ED50 for this response was 312 pg TCDD/g egg. Embryo mortality was the most sensitive sign of toxicity. The TCDD dose that caused 50% mortality above control (LD50) when injected into the egg albumin or yolk was 1,354 and 2,182 pg TCDD/g egg, respectively. At egg TCDD doses up to and including 1,000 pg TCDD/g egg, no effect was detected in 1-d-old hatchlings and 28-d-old chicks in body growth, organ weights, carcass morphometrices, incidence of edema, or incidence of histological alterations in the liver, spleen, heart, Bursa of Fabricius, or thymus. Egg TCDD doses as high as 1,000 pg TCDD/g egg also had no effect on cardiac morphometrices or incidence of cardiac malformations in 1-d-old hatchlings, or on antibody-mediated immunity in 28-d-old chicks. The authors conclude that embryo mortality is the most sensitive sign of TCDD toxicity in the ring-necked pheasant following in ovo exposure.

• OSTI ID: 5811374
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States) Vol. 12:7; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
• 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
BIRDS
DIOXIN
EMBRYOS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PROTEINS
SENSITIVITY
TERATOGENESIS
VERTEBRATES