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Dose verification after topical treatment of alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ) eggs
Author(s) -
Muller Jennifer K.,
Scarborough Janet E.,
Sepúlveda María S.,
Casella George,
Gross Timothy S.,
Borgert Christopher J.
Publication year - 2007
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 - 10.1897/06-286r.1
Subject(s) - alligator , american alligator , eggshell , internal dose , pesticide , toxicology , biology , bird egg , chemistry , zoology , anatomy , ecology , radiochemistry
Numerous studies have used temperature‐dependent sex determination in reptilian eggs to investigate potential developmental effects of exogenously applied substances. However, few studies have measured the dose carried across the eggshell. We report embryonic mortality and internal egg concentrations determined by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry two weeks after exposure of American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ) eggs to chlorinated organic pesticides via injection or topical application. Puncturing the eggshell for injection produced high mortality compared with unpunctured controls; therefore, further evaluation of this method was abandoned. Although higher than controls, mortality was much lower in eggs treated topically than in those injected. Transfer of chemicals across the eggshell was very low, highly variable, and did not correlate with the applied dose after topical application. These results are consistent with previous reports in the literature, casting doubt on whether a reproducible internal dose can be achieved in reptilian eggs by topical treatment.