Effect of Toxaphene on Isolated Hepatocytes of the Yellowtail Flounder, Pleuronectes ferrugineus Storer

Sex Differences in Hepatic Lipids of Toxaphene-Exposed Juvenile Yellowtail Flounder (Pleuronectes ferrugineus Storer)

“…Capuzzo et al (1984) studied the lipid composition of larval stages of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) exposed to petroleum hydrocarbons and also found reductions in TG synthesis. In contrast, in vitro studies on yellowtail flounder hepatocytes exposed to Toxaphene demonstrated a dose-dependent shift to more neutral lipids (Fa˚hraeus-Van Ree and Spurrell, 2000). Lipid accumulation within hepatocytes is one of the earliest cellular abnormalities identified after exposure of organisms to pollutants (Ko¨hler et al, 1992).…”

“…Environmental toxicologists are greatly concerned about potential effects of Toxaphene and its metabolites at every level of aquatic and terrestrial food chains due to its persistence (t 1/2 ! 50 year), its atmospheric transport from dump sites (41 Â 10 6 tons) and countries where it is still being applied (e.g., South America, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Indian subcontinent, and the former Soviet Union), and its bioaccumulation in lipid-rich tissues, particularly in aquatic organisms (Brooks, 1974;Duke, 1977, Fa˚hraeus-Van Ree andPayne, 1997;Loewen et al, 1998, Oetjen andKarl, 1998;Kucklick and Baker, 1998;Fa˚hraeus-Van Ree and Spurrell, 2000). Rather high concentration of Toxaphene [e.g.,303.0 mg/kg wet weight lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and 1723 ng/g lipid weight burbot (Lota lota) have been demonstrated in fish from remote lakes with no record of Toxaphene usage (Muir et al, 1990;Donald et al, 1998).…”

“…Toxaphene, variously known as Camphechlor, Kamfochlor, Alltex, ChemPhene, Synthetic 3956, and Styobane T-90, was a widely used insecticide, herbicide, and piscicide from 1947 until 1982, after which it was banned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Fa˚hraeus-Van Ree and Spurrell, 2000). Environmental toxicologists are greatly concerned about potential effects of Toxaphene and its metabolites at every level of aquatic and terrestrial food chains due to its persistence (t 1/2 !…”