Linda H. Lutz Donald E. Tillitt Mark Hannink Susannah M. Cantrell 1996 <p><span>Vertebrate embryos are extremely sensitive to environmental contaminants known as planar halogenated hydrocarbons (PHHs). The physiological targets that mediate PHH-induced embryotoxicity are not known. We have characterized embryotoxicity in medaka (</span><i>Orizias latipes</i><span>) caused by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-</span><i>p</i><span>-dioxin (TCDD), the prototypic PHH. DNA degradation in cells of the embryonic vasculature and loss of functional integrity of the medial yolk vein were demonstrated in TCDD-exposed embryos. Pharmacological intervention with piperonyl butoxide inhibited TCDD-induced DNA degradation, restored the functional integrity of the medial yolk vein, and protected against the embryotoxicity of TCDD. Treatment of TCDD-exposed embryos with the antioxidant </span><i>N</i><span>-acetylcysteine also provided significant protection against the embryotoxicity of TCDD. These results demonstrate that DNA damage and consequent cell death in the embryonic vasculature are key physiological mediators of TCDD-induced embryotoxicity.</span></p> application/pdf 10.1016/S0041-008X(96)80005-6 en Elsevier Embryotoxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD): Theembryonic vasculature is a physiological target for TCDD-induced DNA damage and apoptotic cell death in medaka (Orizias latipes) article