Wild Mammalian Biomonitors for Assessing Impacts of Environmental Contamination on Population and Community Ecology.
Abstract
Much of the first year (01 Jun 91- 31 May 92) of this project was devoted to developing and refining laboratory techniques for assessing alterations in immune system function, cytogenetics or cytochrome P-450 activity in our principal in situ biomonitor, the cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus). Small mammal communities were monitored on three uncontaminated control and three heavy metal-petrochemical contaminated sites from January 1991 to March 1992 on the Refinery Waste Site in Cyril, Oklahoma. Seasonal assessments of in situ toxicity were made by returning 10 animals per study site to the laboratory for detailed postmortem examination, including immunotoxic, metabolic, and genotoxic evaluations. Postmortem examinations have revealed significant gross dental lesions in 80% of the rats removed from study sites 3 and 4 (both contaminated). Hepatic total P-450 activity and P-450 0-dealkylation of resorufin ethers have been performed on the first collection of rats from the Cyril site but have not been statistically analyzed. Chromosomes were extracted from bone marrow for mitotic metaphase aberrations, spleen samples were fixed for flow cytometric analysis, and liver biopsies were quick-frozen for later DNA single strand lesion analysis using the alkaline unwinding--assay. Preliminary examination of these data suggests that spleen cells from animals on petrochemical-contaminated study sites have less nuclear DNA and greater variation in nuclear DNA content within individuals than those from control sites.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 31, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA252991
Entities
People
- Robert L. Lochmiller Iii
Organizations
- Oklahoma State University–Stillwater