title: DDE feeding and plasma osmoregulation in ducks, guillemots, and puffins.
abstract: To assess the possibility that organochlorine pesticide disruption of osmoregulation is responsible for recent large kills of young seabirds, we have studied the effects of DDE feeding (10-250 ppm) on plasma osmoregulation and nasal gland function in the following species: mallared and white Pekin ducks (both Anas platyrhynchos), black guillemot (Cepphus grylle), and common (Fratercula arctica). Other investigators have recently reported that dietary DDE (10-1,000 ppm) inhibits nasal gland secretion in freshwater-maintained mallards; our initial experiments with white Pekins showed no such inhibition during either freshwater or seawater maintainance. Moreover, DDE had minimal effects on plasma electrolyte levels and total nasal gland Na-K-ATPase activities in all species studied. Liver DDE levels in experimental ducks and guillemots were comparable to those reported for seabirds found dead after kills; levels in starved experimental puffins were much higher. Thus DDE at environmental levels does not affect osmoregulation or nasal gland Na-K-ATPase either in ducks or in two species of oceanic birds.
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004372:Ducks / Q000502:physiology*; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D012964:Sodium; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases