Apoptotic cell death of erythrocytes in Xenopus larvae exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

Xenopus embryos were exposed to 200 ppb 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) for 5 days from the 2- to 8-cell stage of cleavage to the early larval stage. Larvae that developed generalized edema were collected at 7 days alter the end of TCDD exposure for light and electron microscopic studies. Erythrocytes in the peripheral blood of the edematous larvae were examined. Between 0.3 and 33.9% of identifiable erythrocytes of exposed larvae had dilated perinuclear cisternae. Furthermore, some had extremely condensed nuclear chromatin usually coalesced against 1 pole of the nuclear membrane and overall compacted cytoplasm. The erythrocytes showing nuclear condensation were phagocytosed by macrophages. These features are typical of cells undergoing apoptosis. Anemia is 1 symptom of TCDD toxicity in various animal species, including mammals. In this study, we demonstrate that TCDD induces apoptotic cell death in circulating erythrocytes of Xenopus larvae, which may be 1 cause of anemia in this species.