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DISTRIBUTION OF FITC IMPLANTED SUBCUTANEOUSLY IN CONTROLLED RELEASE MATRICES IN CUNNER (TAUTOGOLABRUS ADSPERSUS)
Citation:
GutjahrGobell, R, G Zaroogian, D Borsay, AND L J. Mills. DISTRIBUTION OF FITC IMPLANTED SUBCUTANEOUSLY IN CONTROLLED RELEASE MATRICES IN CUNNER (TAUTOGOLABRUS ADSPERSUS). Presented at Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Annual Meeting, Philadelphia PA, November 14-18, 1999.
Description:
Peritoneal injection is a major route for chemical introduction into fish for toxicological studies. This procedure, however, causes rapid exposure to toxicants at levels which aren't environmentally realistic. Long-term studies to determine effects of estrogenic chemicals on fish reproduction require a methodology that allows the slow controlled release of chemical in order to mimic environmental exposure. With cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus), we investigated the effects of subcutaneously implanted fluorescent dye, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), bound to ethylcellulose using either carbowax, coconut oil or ethoxylated castor oil as carriers. Treatments included: (1) FITC/acetone, ethylcellulose/cyclohexane, carbowax carrier; (2) FITC/acetone, coconut oil carrier; (3) FITC/DMSO, powder ethylcllulose, coconut oil carrier; (4) FITC/DMSO, powder ethylcellulose, ethoxylated castor oil carrier; (5) FITC/acetone, ethylcellulose/cyclohexane, ethoxylated castor oil carrier. FITC in plasma, bile and urine was determined at 1,3,7, 14,21, 28, 42, and 56 days post-implantation. Gross examination of necropsied fish post-implantation showed strong fluorescence within the first two weeks at the implantation site. Plasma fluorescence peaked on day 7 (treatments 2, 4, 5), gradually reduced over time and was still present in treatment 4 on day 42, but reached background levels in treatment 2. Urine fluorescence peaked on day 7 (treatments 2, 4,5) and returned to background by day 21. Bile fluorescence peaked on day 7 (treatments 1,2,4,5) and returned to background by day 14. Fluorescence in tissue sections of gonad, liver and heart are currently being quantified by laser cytometry. Our data suggest that subcutaneous implantation of a chemical bound to ethylcellulose with ethoxylated castor oil as carrier resulted in a slow controlled release and systemic distribution over a period of 42 days in cunner.