Testing Acute Toxicity in the Embryo of Zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio, as an Alternative to the Acute Fish Test: Preliminary Results

Acute toxicity testing in fish is a standard method used in estimating the influences of chemicals on aquatic vertebrates. The ecotoxicological data obtained from acute toxicity tests in fish are, however, not sufficiently reliable to justify the continued use of this test. Fertilised eggs of zebrafish ( Brachydanio rerio) were used to test the acute toxicity of chemicals. They were chosen because the development of B. rerio has been studied extensively and information already exists concerning the normal development of this species. The following parameters of the development of B. rerio were observed: coagulation of the egg, gastrulation, number of somites, movement, development of organ…