Vitellogenin Analysis and the use of Aprotinin in Ecotoxicology

Vitellogenin Analysis and the use of Aprotinin in Ecotoxicology
The determination of vitellogenin (VTG) is an important component of the OECD 229 Fish Short Term Reproduction Assay, or FSTRA. The test guideline recommends the addition of the protease inhibitor aprotinin to plasma samples generated from caudal vein/artery blood collection from the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) prior to quantitation of VTG by ELISA.

Tracey Goodband, Senior Manager of Ecotoxicology from Smithers in Harrogate, and her team looked at the impact of aprotinin on the detection of VTG from fathead minnow plasma. Results were inconclusive – with VTG levels being unaffected by the presence or absence of aprotinin in the majority of samples, with a minority of samples showing either reduced or increased levels of VTG with aprotinin addition. These data indicate that addition of aprotinin to fathead minnow plasma as a means to stabilize VTG for analysis should be re-evaluated. 

Tracey presented these findings at the SETAC Europe SciCon meeting. To learn more, you can download the poster or contact Tracey. 

Download the poster:

SETAC Europe Presentation: Vitellogenin Analysis and the use of Aprotinin

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