Toxicokinetics of atrazine in embryos of the zebrafish (Danio rerio).
Atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamine-s-triazine) is a widely used selective herbicide. Due to its persistence, it is present in many surface waters, contaminating nontarget organisms such as fish. Teratogeny of atrazine was examined during the first 48 h of zebrafish development (embryo test) and correlated to effects on the microsomal and soluble glutathione S-transferases (m-/sGST; EC 2.5.1.18). Atrazine at 4 mg/L disturbed the normal development to long pec stage, at concentrations between 10 and 20 mg/L it caused retardations in organogenesis, a slowdown of movements, and functional disturbances of heart and circulatory system. m- and sGST activities were affected by atrazine in all investigated developmental stages. Atrazine elevated the mGST activity dose dependently up to a concentration of 5 mg/L, and the sGST up to 1 mg/L. Higher atrazine concentrations caused a decrease of GST activity, especially of the sGST of the younger stages, 32 cells and 75% epiboly. This might indicate that the detoxication system itself is affected, which then gives rise to morphological abnormalities during fish development. In vitro tests were performed to purify and characterize GST-formed atrazine metabolites by the use of ESI--HPLC--MS. mGST showed higher conversion rates compared to sGST.
Wiegand
C
C
Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 301, 12587 Berlin, Germany. cwiegand@igb-berlin.de
Krause
E
E
Steinberg
C
C
Pflugmacher
S
S
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D000818:Animals; D001280:Atrazine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006540:Herbicides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008861:Microsomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D013723:Teratogens / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*
D006540:Herbicides; D013723:Teratogens; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D001280:Atrazine