The Colloidal Thyroxine (T4) Ring as a Novel Biomarker of Perchlorate Exposure in the African Clawed Frog Xenopus laevis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if changes in colloidal thyroxine (T(4)) immunoreactivity can be used as a biomarker of perchlorate exposure in amphibian thyroid tissue. Larval African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) were exposed to 0, 1, 8, 93, and 1131 microg perchlorate/l for 38 and 69 days to cover the normal period of larval development and metamorphosis. The results of this study confirmed the presence of an immunoreactive colloidal T(4) ring in thyroid follicles of X. laevis and demonstrated that the intensity of this ring is reduced in a concentration-dependent manner by perchlorate exposure. The smallest effective concentration of perchlorate capable of significantly reducing colloidal T(4) ring intensity was 8 microg perchlorate/l. The intensity of the immunoreactive colloidal T(4) ring is a more sensitive biomarker of perchlorate exposure than changes in hind limb length, forelimb emergence, tail resorption, thyrocyte hypertrophy, or colloid depletion. We conclude that the colloidal T(4) ring can be used as a sensitive biomarker of perchlorate-induced thyroid disruption in amphibians.