Apoptotic cell death of erythrocytes in Xenopus larvae exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.
Xenopus embryos were exposed to 200 ppb 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) for 5 days from the 2- to 8-cell stage of cleavage to the early larval stage. Larvae that developed generalized edema were collected at 7 days after the end of TCDD exposure for light and electron microscopic studies. Erythrocytes in the peripheral blood of the edematous larvae were examined. Between 0.3 and 33.9% of identifiable erythrocytes of exposed larvae had dilated perinuclear cisternae. Furthermore, some had extremely condensed nuclear chromatin usually coalesced against 1 pole of the nuclear membrane and overall compacted cytoplasm. The erythrocytes showing nuclear condensation were phagocytosed by macrophages. These features are typical of cells undergoing apoptosis. Anemia is 1 symptom of TCDD toxicity in various animal species, including mammals. In this study, we demonstrate that TCDD induces apoptotic cell death in circulating erythrocytes of Xenopus larvae, which may be 1 cause of anemia in this species.
Sakamoto
M K
MK
Department of Anatomy, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osakasayama City, Japan.
Mima
S
S
Takahashi
K P
KP
Tanimura
T
T
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004905:Erythrocyte Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014981:Xenopus
D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins