Download Endocrine Disrupting Chemical Effects on Embryonic Development

Endocrine Disrupting Chemical Effects
on Embryonic Development
Carthage College. Biology – Fall ’08
Sara May and Kristiena Escobar
Advisor: Dr. Dan Choffnes
The purpose of this ongoing project is to efficiently determine the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) on the embryonic
development of Xenopus laevis.
•  Two different chemicals were used as controls to provide
guides of what embryos/tadpoles will look like in normal and
toxic environments.
• The negative control was FETAX (Frog Embryo Teratogenesis
Assay Xenopus). A developed embryo is featured in the
photograph on the left, Fig. 1 (A).
•  The positive control was 6-aminonicotinamide, which is a
known EDC. A developed embryo is featured in the
photograph on the right, Fig. 1 (B).
Fig. 1 (A) Embryo
development in control
solution
Fig. 1 (B) Embryo
development in solution
containing 6aminonicotinamide
• Human Chorionic Gonadotropin was injected into the dorsal
lymph sac twice within 72 hours of each other to allow the
female to produce eggs and the male to fertilize them.
• Each control had three replications of approximately 25
developing embryos in 25 mL of the chemical
•  Embryos were staged and malformations were noted.
•  Further research will be done with specific EDCs that are
prevalent in local water systems.