Aroclor 1248 exposure leads to immunomodulation, decreased disease resistance and endocrine disruption in the brown bullhead, Ameiurus nebulosus.
The brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus is a species of the family Ictaluridae commonly used as a sentinel of environmental contamination. While these fish have been utilized for this purpose in areas contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), few controlled, laboratory-based studies have been designed to document the effects of PCB mixtures in this species. Here, brown bullhead were exposed to the PCB mixture, Aroclor 1248, via intraperitoneal injection and the effects on immune function, plasma hormones and disease resistance were evaluated. Exposure to this mixture led to a decrease in bactericidal activity and circulating antibodies to Edwardsiella ictaluri present from a previous exposure to this pathogen. A subsequent E. ictaluri disease challenge led to significantly higher mortality in A1248 treated fish compared to vehicle-control fish. The mitogenic response to the T-cell mitogen, phytohemaglutinin-P, was increased compared to vehicle-control fish. The steroid hormone, cortisol, and the thyroid hormone, T3, were also significantly lower in A1248 exposed fish. In summary, we have validated a number of functional immune assays for application in brown bullhead immunotoxicity studies. Additionally, we have demonstrated that the PCB mixture (A1248) modulates both immune function and endocrine physiology in brown bullhead. Such data may compliment the interpretation of data yielded from applied field studies conducted in PCB contaminated aquatic ecosystems.
Iwanowicz
Luke R
LR
National Fish Health Research Laboratory, USGS, Leetown Science Center, Fish Health Branch, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA. Luke Iwanowicz@usgs.gov
Blazer
Vicki S
VS
McCormick
Stephen D
SD
Vanveld
Peter A
PA
Ottinger
Christopher A
CA
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001140:Aroclors / Q000633:toxicity*; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000378:metabolism; D020610:Edwardsiella ictaluri / Q000276:immunology*; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D007059:Ictaluridae / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008934:Mitogens; D009113:Muramidase / Q000097:blood; D011897:Random Allocation; D016897:Respiratory Burst; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001140:Aroclors; D008934:Mitogens; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014284:Triiodothyronine; C028617:aroclor 1248; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; D009113:Muramidase; D013974:Thyroxine