Journal of Environmental Biology

Growth inhibition in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) fish exposed to tetrachloroethylene

 

Hattie B. Spencer^{1, 2} _, Wedad R. Hussein³ ?and? Paul B. Tchounwou¹

¹Environmental Toxicology Research Laboratory, NIH-Center for Environmental Health, College of Science,

Engineering and Technology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA

²Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, MS 38941, USA

³Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS? 39217, USA

 

(Received: 12 January, 2005 ; Accepted: 1 November, 2005)

 

Abstract: A recent study in our laboratory has demonstrated that tetrachloroethylene (TCE) is acutely toxic to Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) larvae with a 96 hr-LC₅₀ of 18 (17-19) mg/mL (Spencer et al., 2002).? In the present study we hypothesize that TCE exposure induces a developmental effect in Japanese medaka. Growth and age specific sensitivity of Japanese medaka larvae were studied with four age groups (7, 14, 21 and 28 days old) to determine tetrachloroethylene effects on these parameters.? The medaka larvae were exposed for 96 hours in a single concentration (10 mg/mL) of TCE. The toxic endpoints evaluated were larvae weight, length, water content and protein concentration.? The study revealed that exposure of medaka larvae to this sub-acute concentration of TCE significantly reduced length and weight in the treated group. The difference in growth between control and treated groups was more obvious in age versus length, than in age versus weight.? The dry weight-fresh weight ratio (dw/fw) was shown to be higher in the control group. Water content in TCE-treated medaka was higher than in the control group, and younger fry had more water content than older ones.? A higher protein concentration was also observed in TCE-treated medaka compared to the? control group.? These results indicate that TCE has a profound effect on? the growth and development of Japanese medaka larvae.

 

Key words: Tetrachloroethylene, Toxicity, Japanese medaka, Growth inhibition.

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