The Use of Diapausing Eggs from Killifish for Rapid, Sensitive Biological Screening of Toxicants in the Aquatic Environment. Phase II.
Abstract
A 108-tank recirculating system was constructed for the commercial breeding and maintenance of a large adult population of annual killifish, Nothobranchius guentheri. Embryos were harvested and successfully shipped to collaborating USABRDL for use in preliminary toxicant assessment studies. Several studies investigating the effects of temperature on Diapause 3 termination and hatching were conducted. Drops in temperature were found to terminate Diapause 3 and initiate the hatching process. Egg water loss induced by exposure to hypertonic NaCl solutions or dry storage in peat moss were able to inhibit temperature induced hatching. Results permitted the development of long term storage techniques for embryos to be used in portable toxicant assessment kits. Embryos that were preconditioned to enter Diapause 2 by adult exposure to short light cycle (10 hours light, 14 hours dark), removed from water and stored in peat moss at a temperature of 21 deg C, remained viable for 300 days. Results support the use of annual killifish eggs in a portable rapid toxicant assessment kit with a 90 day or greater shelf life.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 02, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA319312
Entities
People
- Eugene Hull