Mercuric chloride uptake by eggs of the ricefish and resulting teratogenic effects

Abstract

Eggs collected from adult Japanese Medaka were incubated for 16 days in solutions containing 10, 15, 20, and 30 ppb mercury as mercuric chloride. The mean hatchability of control eggs was 46.7 percent. Experimental eggs incubated in 10 ppb and 15 ppb mercury had hatching percentages of 58.3 and 20.8 respectively (Chi Square = 12.8, Pless than.0005). None of the 20 ppb or 30 ppb experimental eggs hatched. Nemorrhaging, blood vessel deterioration and loss of blood cells were observed in 79 percent of the 15 ppb experimental eggs and all the 20 and 30 ppb experimental eggs. Neither the control nor the 10 ppb experimental eggs demonstrated any of these abnormalities. The LC100 for 384 hours was between 20 ppb and 30 ppb. The 10, 15, 20 and 30 ppb experimental eggs concentrated mercury directly from the incubating solution 1,600, 1,900, 2,700, and 1,900 times, respectively. The total concentration of mercury in these eggs after 16 consecutive days was 16,000, 29,000, 54,000, and 56,000 respectively.

The effects of heavy metals on embryonic development of fish (a review)

“…According to Heisinger and Green (1975), Hg caused damage to the blood vessels, hemorrhages and reduction of the blood cell count in the embryos of Oryzias latipes. Weis et al (1982) distinguished three main types of malformations in Hg-exposed Fundulus heteroclitus Fig.…”

Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant biological monitoring and abatement program (BMAP) plan

“…Medaka embryos are known to bioconcentrate mercuric compounds, with bioconcentration factors for mercuric chloride ranging from 1590 to 2677 (Heisinger and Green 1975). Mercuric chloride is also reported to have non-lethal teratogenic effects on medaka embryos at concentrations ranging from 10 to 15 ppb, and lethal effects at concentrations exceeding 20 ppb (Heisinger and Green 1975).…”

“…Medaka embryos are known to bioconcentrate mercuric compounds, with bioconcentration factors for mercuric chloride ranging from 1590 to 2677 (Heisinger and Green 1975). Mercuric chloride is also reported to have non-lethal teratogenic effects on medaka embryos at concentrations ranging from 10 to 15 ppb, and lethal effects at concentrations exceeding 20 ppb (Heisinger and Green 1975). Preliminary toxicant identification evaluations on water samples from EFPC and laboratory experiments with medaka embryos exposed to varying dosages and species of mercury and other metals will be performed in order to address this question.…”

Pollutants as developmental toxicants in aquatic organisms.

“…Among the environmental pollutants producing these anomalies are alkaline pH in the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar (34), cadmium in S. gairdneri (35), carbaryl in Fundulus heteroclitus (18), carbaryl, parathion and malathion in Oryzias latipes (36), mercury compounds in Fundulus heteroclitus (31,32), mercury in Oryzias latipes (37), lead in Brachydanio rerio (13), toluene in 0. latipes (38), toluene in Pimephales promelas (39), 2,4,5-T in 0. latipes (40), ethyl carbamate in Brachydanio rerio (41), and aflatoxin in 0. latipes (42). It is believed that the pericardial edema is a result of a fluid imbalance caused by the retarded circulation (17).…”