J. Schwaiger, F. Bucher, H. Ferling
Jul 1, 1992
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0
Influential Citations
72
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Aquatic Toxicology
Abstract
A prolonged toxicity study was carried out on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to evaluate histopathological and histochemical effects of sublethal concentrations of bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (TBTO), which is mainly used as a component in antifouling-paints. Concentrations of TBT (tributyltin), DBT (dibutyltin) and MBT (monobutyltin) were determined in various tissues of test fish. Three groups of test fish (n = 4per group) were exposed to TBTO concentrations of 1.0, 4.0 and 6.0 μg TBTO/1 for 14 days. Furthermore a number of 56 test fish was divided into 4 groups (n = 14per group) and were exposed to TBTO-concentrations of 0.6, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 μg/l, respectively, over a 28-day period. In addition, one group (n = 14) was exposed to TBTO at a concentration of 6.0 μg/l for 10 days. Furthermore a selection of 6 rainbow trout per group was exposed to TBTO-concentrations of 2.0, 4.0 (28 days) and 6.0 μg TBTO/1 (10 days). Twenty-six fish without TBTO-treatment served as controls. Substantial amounts of bulyltin species were found in all tissues analyzed; concentrations were highest in spleen and kidney. At all concentrations under study main histopathological findings were a dose-related lymphocytic depletion, a marked proliferation of reticuloendothelial cells and an increased erythrophagia in spleen as well as severe lesions within epithelia of gills and pseudobranch. In addition epithelial cells of the bile duct system showed slight regressive alterations. By using histochemical analysis, distinct changes concerning the pattern of various tissue enzymes within the liver, gills and kidney could be observed in fish exposed to 4.0 and 6.0 μg TBTO/1 over a period of 28 or 10 days, respectively.