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A rapid aquatic toxicity assay utilizing labeled thymidine incorporation in sea urchin embryos
Author(s) -
Jackim Eugene,
Nacci Diane
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620030413
Subject(s) - sea urchin , toxicity , thymidine , biology , embryo , toxicology , chemical toxicity , ec50 , bioassay , environmental chemistry , chemistry , fishery , in vitro , biochemistry , ecology , organic chemistry
Aquatic toxicity was evaluated in the sea urchin embryo ( Arbacia punctulata ) by the inhibition of tritiated thymidine incorporation after a brief exposure to toxic chemicals. In preliminary trials, using eight compounds of varying toxicities, results accurately predicted reduced survival and morphological delay after 48‐h exposures (r 2 = 0.97). Excellent correlations also exist between these calculated median effective concentrations (EC 50 values) and literature‐derived acute LC 50 values for two other aquatic species. Arbacia is a useful surrogate species for assay: well‐studied, easily cultured and fertile virtually year round. The simplicity and speed of this test system lends itself to screening large numbers of compounds, mixtures or water samples.