The Colloidal Thyroxine (T4) Ring as a Novel Biomarker of Perchlorate Exposure in the African Clawed Frog Xenopus laevis

Comparing the effects and potencies of perchlorate and nitrate on amphibian metamorphosis using a modified amphibian metamorphosis assay (AMA)

A modified amphibian metamorphosis assay was performed in which Nieuwkoop and Faber (NF) stage 47 Xenopus laevis larvae were exposed to different concentrations of either perchlorate (ClO4 -) or nitrate (NO3 -) for 32 days. Larvae were exposed to 0.0 (control), 5, 25, 125, 625, and 3125 μg/L ClO4 -, or 0 (control), 23, 71, 217, 660, and 2000 mg/L NO3 -. The primary endpoints were survival, hind limb length (HLL), forelimb emergence and development, developmental stage (including time to NF stage 62 [MT62]), thyroid histopathology, wet weight, and snout-vent length (SVL). Developmental delay as evidenced by altered stage distribution and increased MT62, a higher degree of thyroid follicular cell hypertrophy, and an increase in the prevalence of follicular cell hyperplasia was observed at concentrations ≥125 μg/L ClO4 -. The no observed effect concentration (NOEC) for developmental endpoints was 25.0 μg/L ClO4 - and the NOEC for growth endpoints was 3125 μg/L ClO4 -. Exposure to nitrate did not adversely affect MT62, but a decreasing trend in stage distribution and median developmental stage at ≥217 mg/L NO3 - was observed. No histopathologic effects associated with nitrate exposure were observed. An increasing trend in SVL-normalized HLL was observed at 2000 mg/L NO3 -. Nitrate did not alter larval growth. The NOEC for developmental endpoints was 71 mg/L NO3 -, and 2000 mg/L NO3 - for growth endpoints. The present study provided additional evidence that the effects and potency of nitrate and perchlorate on metamorphosis and growth in X. laevis are considerably different.

Histological evidence of hypothyroidism in mice chronically exposed to conventional farming

Worldwide, disorders of the thyroid gland are a growing concern; such can be caused by exposure to contaminants, including agrochemicals used in conventional agriculture, which act as endocrine disruptors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether or not exposure to an environment with conventional agriculture leads to thyroid disruption. Mus musculus were used as bioindicator species, captured in two sites: a farm where conventional agriculture is practiced, and a place without agriculture. Thyroid histomorphometric and morphologic data were analyzed. The impacts of the agricultural environment over the thyroid were revealed, as indications of hypothyroidism were observed in exposed mice: the area and volume of epithelial cells were much lower. Alterations in thyroid histomorphology were also observed: lower follicular sphericity, irregularly delimited epithelium and increased exfoliation into the colloid. These results highlight the need for transition from current conventional agricultural systems towards organic systems.

Importance of diet in amphibian metamorphosis-based studies designed to assess the risk of thyroid active substances

The present study evaluated the hypothesis that dietary quality used in historical studies may impact the effects of chemical stressors on premetamorphic development and metamorphosis due to suboptimal nutritional quality. A modified Amphibian Metamorphosis Assay (AMA) was performed in which Nieuwkoop and Faber (NF) Stage 47 tadpoles of Xenopus laevis were exposed for 32 days to iodide (I^- )-deficient FETAX solution supplemented with <0.025, 0.17, 0.52, 1.58, and 4.80 μg I^- /L (measured concentrations 0.061, 0.220, 0.614, 1.65, and 4.73 μg I^- /L) and fed a pureed Frog Brittle (FB) diet. An AMA guideline benchmark group (four replicates) exposed to dechlorinated tap water and fed standard Sera Micron Nature® (SMN) diet was evaluated concurrently. Developmental delay, observed as changes in stage distribution or median developmental stage, occurred in FB treatments with 0.061, 0.220, and 0.614 μg/L I^- , respectively. Developmental rates and hind limb length of the 1.65 and 4.73 μg/L I^- groups were similar to each other, but both treatments fell short of the developmental rate achieved by the SMN benchmark. Iodide supplementation also had no impact on nonthyroidal growth endpoints, which were markedly reduced in FB-fed frogs compared with their SMN-fed counterparts. All larvae that received the FB diet had mildly to severely hypoplastic/atrophic thyroids, a condition for which iodine supplementation had little if any ameliorative effect. Collectively, these results suggested that nutritional deficiencies in the FB diet negatively affected both growth and metamorphic development, the latter of which was only compensated to a limited extent by iodine supplementation.

Runoff from firework manufacturing as major perchlorate source in the surface waters around Diwali in Ahmedabad, India

Fireworks events during the annual Indian festival of Diwali has been heavily criticised in recent times. Perchlorate is an essential component of fireworks. The effects of the fireworks on perchlorate (ClO₄^-) concentrations and quality parameters of the ambient waters of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India were studied. As expected, ClO₄^- concentrations in the (Kankaria) lake adjoining the fireworks site were below detection prior to the Diwali event and increased to 0.97 and 1.03 μg/L at 48 and 288 h after the event, respectively. However, samples from the Sabarmati River surprisingly contained an extremely high concentration of ClO₄^- (65 μg/L) one day before the event, which decreased to 1.14 μg/L after 48 h and was below detection limit after 7 days of the event. This finding raises questions such as: (a) which has greater impact, fireworks manufacturing or burning; (b) can unregulated release of untreated effluents be a major critical source of pollution needing immediate attention from removal, environmental regulation and policy perspectives; c) is policy pertaining to unskilled labour in the manufacturing of fireworks and other ClO₄^--containing products needed in developing countries; and d) is ClO₄^- being a strong oxidiser, detrimental to the soil, groundwater, and aquatic environment?

Amphibian (Rana nigromaculata)exposed to cyproconazole: Changes in growth index, behavioral endpoints, antioxidant biomarkers, thyroid and gonad development

Pesticides are a major cause of reduction in the global population of amphibians. This study investigates the effect of varying concentrations of cyproconazole (1 and 10 mg/L) on Rana nigromaculata during a chronic 90 days exposure period. High levels of cyproconazole (10 mg/L) induced declined body weight, short snout-vent length, slow metamorphic development and abnormal behavioral endpoints in R. nigromaculata tadpoles. Tadpoles exposed to 10 mg/L did not survive beyond 42 days. Abnormal behaviors were observed more frequently with exposure to the highest concentration of cyproconazole. Compared with controls, the concentrations of dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) were significantly increased in tadpoles exposed to 1 mg/L cyproconazole. However, when the concentration of cyproconazole increased to 10 mg/L, concentrations of SOD, GSH and CAT activity began to decline. In addition, thyroid and gonad development were also affected at the gene and hormone level, with varied effects observed with different exposure levels and days. Exposure to cyproconazole at the lower level of 1 mg/L induced damage to histological structures of the thyroid gland. Stereoselective tissue distribution and bioaccumulation of cyproconazole was observed in tadpoles. The ranked order of bioaccumulation was: enantiomer -4 > 3> 2 > 1, with the level of cyproconazole highest in the gut. These findings reflect the toxicity of cyproconazole to R. nigromaculata and further our understanding of the effects of pesticide exposure on global amphibian population declines.

Lifecycle exposure to perchlorate differentially alters morphology, biochemistry, and transcription as well as sperm motility in Silurana tropicalis frogs

Perchlorate (ClO₄^-) contamination has been reported in ground and surface waters across North America. However, few studies have examined the effects of prolonged exposure to this thyroid hormone disrupting chemical, particularly at environmentally relevant concentrations in lower vertebrates, such as amphibians. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a yearlong chronic exposure to ClO₄^- in adult male and female Western clawed frogs (Silurana tropicalis). Frogs were spawned and raised from fertilized embryo until sexual maturity in potassium perchlorate (KClO₄)-treated water at different concentrations (0, 20, 53, and 107 μg/L). Developmental and reproductive indices - including adult morphology, androgen plasma levels, gonadal thyroid hormone- and sex steroid-related transcript levels, and sperm motility - were evaluated in male and female adult frogs. Female growth (e.g., body mass, snout-vent length, and hind limb length) was significantly reduced following chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of KClO₄ resulting in females with morphometric indices similar to those of control males - indicating potential sex-specific sensitivities to KClO₄. Changes to reproductive indices (i.e., plasma androgen levels, gonadal thyroid hormone- and sex steroid-related transcript levels, and sperm motility) were also observed in both sexes and suggest that KClO₄ exposure may also have indirect secondary effects on the reproductive axes in male and female adult frogs. These effects were observed at concentrations at or below those reported in surface waters contaminated with ClO₄^- suggesting that this contaminant may have developmental and reproductive effects post-metamorphosis in natural amphibian populations.

Knotting nets: Molecular junctions of interconnecting endocrine axes identified by application of the adverse outcome pathway concept

To be defined as an endocrine disruptor, a substance has to meet several criteria, including the induction of specific adverse effects, a specific endocrine mode of action, and a plausible link between both. The latter criterion in particular might not always be unequivocally determined, especially because the endocrine system consists of diverse endocrine axes. The axes closely interact with each other, and manipulation of one triggers effects on the other. The present review aimed to identify some of the many interconnections between these axes. The focus was on fish, but data obtained in studies on amphibians and mammals were considered if they assisted in closing data gaps, because most of the endocrine mechanisms are evolutionarily conserved. The review includes data both from ecotoxicological studies and on physiological processes and gives information on hormone/hormone receptor interactions or gene transcription regulation. The key events and key event relationships identified provide explanations for unexpected effects on one axis, exerted by substances suspected to act specifically on another axis. Based on these data, several adverse outcome pathway (AOP) segments are identified, describing connections between the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axes, the HPG and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal/interrenal (HPA/I) axes, and the HPT and HPA/I axes. Central key events identified across axes were altered aromatase activity as well as altered expression and function of the proteins 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) and steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein. Substance classes that act on more than one endocrine axis were, for example, goitrogens or aromatase inhibitors. Despite the wealth of information gathered, the present review only provides a few insights into the molecular nets of endocrine axes, demonstrating the complexity of their interconnections. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:318-328. © 2017 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.

Surface water mitigates the anti-metamorphic effects of elevated perchlorate concentrations in New Mexico spadefoot toad larvae (Spea multiplicata)

Perchlorate (ClO₄^-) has potential to negatively impact amphibian populations by inhibiting thyroid hormone production, and thus metamorphosis in developing larvae. However, variability exists in species sensitivity, and there is evidence suggesting that natural surface waters can mitigate the anti-metamorphic potential of perchlorate. New Mexico spadefoot toad tadpoles, Spea multiplicata, were exposed to natural surface waters spiked with nominal concentrations of 0, 1000, 1350, 1710, 3000, 5110, and 8000 μg/L perchlorate ion for up to 42 days. No consistent dose-response trends were observed in mortality, rate of metamorphosis, Gosner stage, mass, or length. This study suggests that perchlorate exposure to concentrations as high as 8000 μg/L in natural surface waters does not result in adverse effects on New Mexico spadefoot tadpoles and emphasizes the importance of using site-specific conditions and species when evaluating ecological risks in perchlorate-impacted areas.

Exogenous iodide ameliorates perchlorate-induced thyroid phenotypes in threespine stickleback

Perchlorate is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant that has widespread endocrine disrupting effects in vertebrates, including threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). The target of perchlorate is thyroid tissue where it induces changes in the organization, activation, and morphology of thyroid follicles and surrounding tissues. To test the hypothesis that some phenotypes of perchlorate toxicity are not mediated by thyroid hormone, we chronically exposed stickleback beginning at fertilization to perchlorate (10, 30, 100ppm) or control water with and without supplementation of either iodide or thyroxine (T₄). Stickleback were sampled across a one-year timespan to identify potential differences in responses to treatment combinations before and after sexual maturation. We found that most thyroid histomorphological phenotypes induced by perchlorate (follicle proliferation, reduced follicle area (adults only), colloid depletion, thyrocyte hypertrophy (subadults only)) were significantly ameliorated by exogenous iodide supplementation. In contrast, treatment with exogenous T₄ did not correct any of the thyroid-specific histopathologies induced by perchlorate. Whole-body thyroid hormone concentrations were not significantly affected by perchlorate exposure; however, supplementation with iodide and T₄ significantly increased T₄ concentrations. This study also revealed an increased erythrocyte area in the thyroid region of perchlorate-exposed adults, while lipid droplet number increased in perchlorate-exposed subadults. Increased erythrocyte area was ameliorated by both iodide and T₄, while neither supplement was able to correct lipid droplet number. Our finding on lipid droplets indicates that exposure to perchlorate in early development may have obesogenic effects.

Dietary exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ether 47 (BDE-47) inhibits development and alters thyroid hormone-related gene expression in the brain of Xenopus laevis tadpoles

Few studies have investigated the thyroid-disrupting effects of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) across multiple levels of biological organization in anurans, despite their suitability for the screening of thyroid disruptors. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effects of 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) on development, thyroid histology and thyroid hormone-related gene expression in Xenopus laevis exposed to 0 (control), 50 (low), 500 (medium) or 5000μg BDE-47/g food (high) for 21days. Only the high dose of BDE-47 hindered growth and development; however, thyroid hormone-associated gene expression was downregulated in the brains of tadpoles regardless of dose. These results show that BDE-47 disrupts thyroid hormone signaling at the molecular and whole-organism levels and suggest that gene expression in the brain is a more sensitive endpoint than metamorphosis. Furthermore, the altered gene expression patterns among BDE-47-exposed tadpoles provide insight into the mechanisms of PBDE-induced thyroid disruption and highlight the potential for PBDEs to act as neurodevelopmental toxicants.

Changes in gastric sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) activity are associated with differences in thyroid gland sensitivity to perchlorate during metamorphosis

We investigated stage-dependent changes in sensitivity of the thyroid gland to perchlorate during development of African clawed frog tadpoles (Xenopus laevis) in relation to non-thyroidal iodide transporting tissues. Perchlorate-induced increases in thyroid follicle cell size and colloid depletion were blunted when exposures began at Nieuwkoop-Faber (NF) stage 55 compared to when exposures began at NF stages 49 or 1-10. To determine if the development of other iodide transporting tissues may contribute to this difference we first examined which tissues expressed transcripts for the sodium dependent iodide symporter (NIS). RT-PCR analysis revealed that NIS was expressed in stomach and small intestine in addition to the thyroid gland of X. laevis tadpoles. NIS mRNA was not detected in lung, kidney, skin, gill, muscle, heart or liver. Perchlorate sensitive (125)I uptake was found in stomach, lung, kidney, gill, and small intestine but not muscle, liver, or heart. Perchlorate-sensitive (125)I uptake by stomach was 6-10 times greater than in any other non-thyroidal tissue in tadpoles. While NF stage 49 tadpoles exhibited perchlorate-sensitive uptake in stomach it was roughly 4-fold less than that observed in NF stage 55 tadpoles. Although abundance of NIS gene transcripts was greater in stomachs from NF stage 55 compared to NF stage 49 tadpoles this difference was not statistically significant. We conclude that gastric iodide uptake increases between NF stages 49 and 55, possibly due to post-translational changes in NIS glycosylation or trafficking within gastric mucosal cells. These developmental changes in gastric NIS gene expression may affect iodide availability to the thyroid gland.

Surveillance of perchlorate in ground water, surface water and bottled water in Kerala, India

BACKGROUND

Perchlorate is an emerging water contaminant that disrupts normal functioning of human thyroid gland and poses serious threat to health, especially for pregnant women, fetus and children.

RESULTS

High level of perchlorate contamination in fresh water sources at places nearby ammonium perchlorate (rocket fuel) handled in bulk is reported in this study. Of 160 ground water samples analyzed from 27 locations in the State Kerala, 58 % had perchlorate above detection limit (2 μg/L) and the highest concentration observed was 7270 μg/L at Ernakulam district, this value is ~480 times higher than USEPA drinking water equivalent level (15 μg/L). Perchlorate was detected in all surface water samples analyzed (n = 10) and the highest value observed was 355 μg/L in Periyar river (a major river in the State). The bottled drinking water (n = 5) tested were free of perchlorate.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study underlines the need for frequent screening of water sources for perchlorate contamination around places the chemical is handled in bulk. It will help to avoid human exposure to high levels of perchlorate.

Crosstalk between the thyroid hormone and androgen axes during reproductive development in Silurana tropicalis

The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of potassium perchlorate (KClO4) treatment on androgen- and thyroid hormone (TH)-related transcript levels during gonadogenesis in the frog Silurana tropicalis. Androgen- and TH-related gene expression was examined in gonad-mesonephros complex (GMC) and liver tissues at stage NF 56 and stage NF 60. These stages of development coincide with the period of sexual differentiation. Real-time RT-PCR analyses revealed that androgen- and TH-related transcript levels in the GMC and liver of stage NF 56 and NF 60 frogs are responsive to KClO4 exposure during prometamorphosis. An increase in srd5α2 mRNA levels in hepatic tissues of KClO4-treated NF 56 tadpoles suggests an important role for hepatic tissues in androgen metabolism. Gene transcript differences highlight possible stage- and tissue-specific sensitivities to KClO4. A greater number of TH- and androgen-related transcriptional changes were discerned in the hepatic tissues compared to the gonads, and overall fewer transcriptional changes were observed in stage NF 60 tadpoles compared to stage NF 56 larvae. Perchlorate suppressed somatic and hind-limb development during the 96-d exposure period. Treatment with KClO4 had no significant effect on sex ratios, however a notable reduction in the percentage of males (33.3% M: 66.7% F) in the highest KClO4 concentration (107 μg/L) was observed. Overall, these findings suggest that KClO4 has secondary androgenic disrupting properties in addition to its known primary thyroid hormone-disrupting role.

Effects of fluoride on metamorphosis, thyroid and skeletal development in Bufo gargarizans tadpoles

This study examined the effects of chronic fluoride exposure on metamorphosis, thyroid and skeletal development in tadpoles of Chinese Toad, Bufo gargarizans. The tadpoles were exposed to fluoride concentrations either at 0, 1, 5, 10, or at 50 mg L(-1) from Gosner stage 26 to Gosner stage 42. Body weight, total length and percentage of tadpoles reaching metamorphosis climax were recorded, and thyroid histological examinations were employed. In addition, mRNA expression of both deiodinase type 2 (D2) and deiodinase type 3 (D3) was analyzed by using RT-PCR and skeletal systems were investigated by using double-staining methodology at stage 42. Results showed that total length and body weight were unaffected by fluoride exposure at all concentrations while metamorphosis was strongly inhibited only by 50 mg L(-1) fluoride. Histomorphological measurements showed the percentage of colloid depletion in thyroid gland increased significantly, while the average diameter of follicles was significantly shorter at 50 mg L(-1) concentration. In addition, fluoride at 5 mg L(-1) can stimulate bone mineralization, while fluoride at 50 mg L(-1) can retard deposition of calcium. In conclusion, our study suggests that 50 mg L(-1) fluoride could damage follicular cells in thyroid gland and induce a sharp reduction in thyroid hormone probably through the up-regulation of D3 mRNA expression, and these influences on thyroid system may delay metamorphosis as well as ossification in bone tissue by inhibiting calcium deposition.

Comparative acute and chronic sensitivity of fish and amphibians: a critical review of data

The relative sensitivity of amphibians to chemicals in the environment, including plant protection product active substances, is the subject of ongoing scientific debate. The objective of this study was to compare systematically the relative sensitivity of amphibians and fish to chemicals. Acute and chronic toxicity data were obtained from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) ECOTOX database and were supplemented with data from the scientific and regulatory literature. The overall outcome is that fish and amphibian toxicity data are highly correlated and that fish are more sensitive (both acute and chronic) than amphibians. In terms of acute sensitivity, amphibians were between 10- and 100-fold more sensitive than fish for only four of 55 chemicals and more than 100-fold more sensitive for only two chemicals. However, a detailed inspection of these cases showed a similar acute sensitivity of fish and amphibians. Chronic toxicity data for fish were available for 52 chemicals. Amphibians were between 10- and 100-fold more sensitive than fish for only two substances (carbaryl and dexamethasone) and greater than 100-fold more sensitive for only a single chemical (sodium perchlorate). The comparison for carbaryl was subsequently determined to be unreliable and that for sodium perchlorate is a potential artifact of the exposure medium. Only a substance such as dexamethasone, which interferes with a specific aspect of amphibian metamorphosis, might not be detected using fish tests. However, several other compounds known to influence amphibian metamorphosis were included in the analysis, and these did not affect amphibians disproportionately. These analyses suggest that additional amphibian testing is not necessary during chemical risk assessment.

Thyroid Hormone-disrupting Effects and the Amphibian Metamorphosis Assay

There are continued concerns about endocrine-disrupting chemical effects, and appropriate vertebrate models for assessment of risk are a high priority. Frog tadpoles are very sensitive to environmental substances because of their habitat and the complex processes of metamorphosis regulated by the endocrine system, mainly thyroid hormones. During metamorphosis, marked alteration in hormonal factors occurs, as well as dramatic structural and functional changes in larval tissues. There are a variety of mechanisms determining thyroid hormone balance or disruption directly or indirectly. Direct-acting agents can cause changes in thyroxine synthesis and/or secretion in thyroid through effects on peroxidases, thyroidal iodide uptake, deiodinase, and proteolysis. At the same time, indirect action may result from biochemical processes such as sulfation, deiodination and glucuronidation. Because their potential to disrupt thyroid hormones has been identified as an important consideration for the regulation of chemicals, the OECD and the EPA have each established guidelines that make use of larval African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) and frog metamorphosis for screening and testing of potential endocrine disrupters. The guidelines are based on evaluation of alteration in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. One of the primary endpoints is thyroid gland histopathology. Others are mortality, developmental stage, hind limb length, snout-vent length and wet body weight. Regarding histopathological features, the guidelines include core criteria and additional qualitative parameters along with grading. Taking into account the difficulties in evaluating amphibian thyroid glands, which change continuously throughout metamorphosis, histopathological examination has been shown to be a very sensitive approach.

The hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis in teleosts and amphibians: endocrine disruption and its consequences to natural populations

Teleosts and pond-breeding amphibians may be exposed to a wide variety of anthropogenic, waterborne contaminants that affect the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. Because thyroid hormone is required for their normal development and reproduction, the potential impact of HPT-disrupting contaminants on natural teleost and amphibian populations raises special concern. There is laboratory evidence indicating that persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals, pharmaceutical and personal care products, agricultural chemicals, and aerospace products may alter HPT activity, development, and reproduction in teleosts and amphibians. However, at present there is no evidence to clearly link contaminant-induced HPT alterations to impairments in teleost or amphibian population health in the field. Also, with the exception of perchlorate for which laboratory studies have shown a direct link between HPT disruption and adverse impacts on development and reproductive physiology, little is known about if or how other HPT-disrupting contaminants affect organismal performance. Future field studies should focus on establishing temporal associations between the presence of HPT-disrupting chemicals, the occurrence of HPT alterations, and adverse effects on development and reproduction in natural populations; as well as determining how complex mixtures of HPT contaminants affect organismal and population health.

Surface water mitigates the anti-metamorphic effects of perchlorate in New Mexico spadefoot toads (Spea multiplicata) and African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis)

Spea multiplicata (New Mexico spadefoot toad) larvae were exposed to 60, 110, and 1000 microg L(-1) perchlorate dissolved in natural surface water to determine risks associated with perchlorate exposure in desert-adapted anurans. Hind- and forelimb development and tail resorption were measured to identify effects of perchlorate exposure. No perchlorate-related effects on snout-vent length, hindlimb length, and proportion metamorphosed were observed in the highest treatment group (positive control; 1000 microg L(-1)) suggesting that either S.multiplicata are not sensitive to the effects of perchlorate at the concentrations tested or that unidentified constituents of natural surface water mitigated perchlorate toxicity. To identify whether surface water mitigated perchlorate toxicity, Xenopuslaevis were exposed to 20 and 60 microg L(-1) perchlorate in surface water and synthetic laboratory prepared water (i.e., FETAX media). X.laevis exposed to perchlorate dissolved in surface water exhibited no perchlorate-related anti-metamorphic effects, whereas X.laevis exposed to perchlorate in FETAX media experienced changes in percent metamorphosing (p<0.001), time to metamorphosis (p<0.001), snout-vent length (p<0.001), and hindlimb length (p<0.001) as compared to FETAX controls. These results suggest that natural surface water can mediate perchlorate effects at concentrations up to 60 microg L(-1) for X.laevis and greater than 1 mg L(-1) for S.multiplicata, potentially due to physicochemical properties of surface water.

CAPSULE

This manuscript discusses the effects of perchlorate in natural surface water to S.multiplicata and X.laevis.

Amphibians and agricultural chemicals: review of the risks in a complex environment

Agricultural landscapes, although often highly altered in nature, provide habitat for many species of amphibian. However, the persistence and health of amphibian populations are likely to be compromised by the escalating use of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals. This review examines some of the issues relating to exposure of amphibian populations to these chemicals and places emphasis on mechanisms of toxicity. Several mechanisms are highlighted, including those that may disrupt thyroid activity, retinoid pathways, and sexual differentiation. Special emphasis is also placed on the various interactions that may occur between different agro-chemicals and between chemicals and other environmental factors. We also examine the indirect effects on amphibian populations that occur when their surrounding pond communities are altered by chemicals.

A perchlorate sensitive iodide transporter in frogs

Nucleotide sequence comparisons have identified a gene product in the genome database of African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) as a probable member of the solute carrier family of membrane transporters. To confirm its identity as a putative iodide transporter, we examined the function of this sequence after heterologous expression in mammalian cells. A green monkey kidney cell line transfected with the Xenopus nucleotide sequence had significantly greater (125)I uptake than sham-transfected control cells. The uptake in carrier-transfected cells was significantly inhibited in the presence of perchlorate, a competitive inhibitor of mammalian Na(+)/iodide symporter. Tissue distributions of the sequence were also consistent with a role in iodide uptake. The mRNA encoding the carrier was found to be expressed in the thyroid gland, stomach, and kidney of tadpoles from X. laevis, as well as the bullfrog Rana catesbeiana. The ovaries of adult X. laevis also were found to express the carrier. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the putative X. laevis iodide transporter is orthologous to vertebrate Na(+)-dependent iodide symporters. We conclude that the amphibian sequence encodes a protein that is indeed a functional Na(+)/iodide symporter in X. laevis, as well as R. catesbeiana.