Abstract
The effects of elevated in ovo selenium (Se) exposure on late stage larval Xenopus laevis development were investigated. Adult females were fed diets augmented with selenomethionine for 68 days and bred with untreated males to obtain embryos with measured concentrations of 1.6 (control), 10.8, 28.1 and 81.7 μg Se/g dry mass. Embryos were reared under uncontaminated conditions until 50 % of individuals within an aquarium had completed metamorphosis. The highest in ovo Se exposure group exhibited greater froglet body mass and snout to vent length while having a higher proportion of tadpoles at earlier stages of development. No differences were detected among treatment groups for mortality or metamorphic timing during the rearing period. This research suggests that in ovo Se exposure has minimal effect on the survival and development of late stage larval X. laevis in a controlled laboratory environment with adequate food availability.
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Acknowledgments
This research was funded by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant (RGPIN 288163) to DMJ, Stantec Consulting Ltd, and Glencore LLC. AJM received a NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship and a Toxicology Graduate Program scholarship. The authors thank Natacha Hogan, Luciene Kapronczai, Chloë Rollack, Luciana Frazão, Gillian Cattet, Tyler Mock, Thomas Kroshko, Kean Steeves and Jordie Richardson for their laboratory assistance.
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Massé, A.J., Muscatello, J.R. & Janz, D.M. Effects of Elevated In Ovo Selenium Exposure on Late Stage Development of Xenopus laevis Tadpoles. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 97, 463–468 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1884-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1884-6