Date of Award
4-2004
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Biological Sciences
First Advisor
Dr. Charles F. Ide
Second Advisor
Dr. Rob Eversole
Third Advisor
Dr. John Spitsbergen
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Jay C. Means
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a major contaminant of global extent in water resources and aquatic biota. Due to its high lipid solubility, PCBs fail to be degraded and, therefore, continue to bioaccumulate throughout the environment and food chain. To determine the impact of PCBs on the immune system ofaged and juvenile Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes), fish were injected with the coplanar PCB congener 126 and examined after 3 and 14 days. PCB 126 produced oxidative stress in both age groups of fish 14 days post-injection; however, juvenile medaka appeared more susceptible than aged fish. Humoral immunity, as determined by antibody forming cell (AFC) numbers, was significantly depressed for up to 14 days post-injection in both age groups. These results demonstrate the sensitivity of the fish immune response for predicting PCB-induced immunotoxicity and identify age as a variable in determining adverse outcome.
Access Setting
Dissertation-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Fisher, Marla Ann, "Health Impacts of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Aquatic Organisms" (2004). Dissertations. 1100.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/1100
Included in
Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons