Detection of environmental endocrine-disruptor effects on gene expression in live Rana catesbeiana tadpoles using a tail fin biopsy technique.

We describe a novel method of rapidly assessing exposure of premetamorphic Rana catesbeiana tadpoles to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Tail fin biopsy and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses of the thyroid hormone (TH)-responsive gene, TH receptor beta (TRbeta), demonstrate for the first time that a known accelerant of TH-induced metamorphosis, acetochlor, can significantly enhance TH-induced TRbeta mRNA levels within 24 h at an environmentally relevant dose. Although we focus on laboratory exposures in this study, this method easily can be adapted for use in field studies.