Vertebral dysplasia in young fish exposed to the herbicide trifluralin

Sheepshead minnows, Cyprinodon variegatus Laeepede, exposed to 5 5 to 31 /xg/1 of the herbicide trifluralin, throughout their first 28 days of life, developed a heretofore undescribed vertebral dysplasia. This dysplasia consisted of semisymmetrical hypertrophy of vertebrae (three to 20 times normal), characterized by foci of osteoblast and fibroblasts actively laying down bone and bone precursors. Effects of the abnormal vertebral development were dorsal vertebral growth into the neural canal, ventral compression of renal ducts, and longitudinal fusion of vertebrae. Fish, exposed for 51 days to 16-6 /ng/1 trifluralin and thereafter depurated for 41 days, showed no increase in vertebral dysplasia during depuration; however, residual spinal column damage was evident. Serum calcium concentrations were elevated in adult fish exposed for 4 days to 16-6 /xg/1 trifluralin. Fluorosis or mimicry of hypervitaminosis A are considered possible mechanisms for the osseous effect, but are not considered to be the only possible causes. The highly predictable nature of this disorder in experimental exposures strengthens the probability that young flsh may serve as experimental models for determining effects of chemicals on early vertebrate ontogeny, particularly in regard to skeletal development.