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Rodent neurotoxicity bioassays for screening contaminated great lakes fish
Author(s) -
Beattie M. Kate,
Gerstenberger Shawn,
Hoffman Richard,
Dellinger John A.
Publication year - 1996
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.5620150314
Subject(s) - stizostedion , carp , cyprinus , minnow , neurotoxicity , trout , salvelinus , biology , bioaccumulation , common carp , toxicology , zoology , fishery , toxicity , fish <actinopterygii> , medicine , ecology
Standard laboratory rat neurotoxicity protocols were used to study the consequences resulting from the consumption of walleye ( Stizostedion vitreum ), whitefish ( Coregonus chupeaformis ), and lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush ) from Lake Superior (LS) and the consumption of carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) from Little Lake Butte des Morte (LLBM) near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. Two 90‐d subchronic studies are described, including a 45‐d exposure to fish diets using male Sprague‐Dawley hooded rats, and a 90‐d exposure to fish diets using female rats of the same species. Behavioral alterations were tested using a battery of behavioral tests. In addition, pharmacologic challenges using apomorphine and D‐amphetamine were administered to the rats to reveal latent neurotoxic effects. Cumulative fish consumption data were recorded daily, weight gain recorded weekly, and behavioral data collected prior to exposure, and on days 7, 14, 55 ± 2, 85 ± 2. Motor activity data were collected on days 30 ± 2, 60 ± 2, and 90 ± 2 of the feeding protocols. Brain tissue from rodents fed these fish were subsequently analyzed for either mercury (Hg) or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). Mercury concentrations were increased in the brains of the walleye‐fed rats, and PCB concentrations ranged from 0.5 nl/L to 10 nl/L in the brains of rats fed carp from LLBM, a Lake Michigan tributary. Adult male rats fed LLBM carp for 45 d exhibited the greatest behavioral responses to the dopaminergic agonist apomorphine on the accelerating rotarod, although these differences were not significant. The 90‐d exposure of LS walleye or Hg‐spiked LS walleye resulted in behavioral alterations on tactile startle response and second footsplay. D‐Amphetamine challenge caused changes in tactile startle response, second footsplay, and accelerating rotarod performance after consuming walleye diets. Rats fed LLBM carp had altered behavioral responses to apomorphine on the accelerating rotarod.