| Abstract | In response to new legislation, there is a need to screen chemicals for endocrine disrupting activity. There are multiple methods approved for detecting endocrine disruption, but they are either too expensive, too time-consuming, or performed in vitro which limits their utility. The Rapid Estrogen ACTivity In Vivo (REACTIV) assay avoids these pitfalls as it is cheaper, quicker, and performed in vivo. For this method to be adopted by the Organization for Co-operation and Development (OECD), it must be proven to produce consistent results and avoid false positives. This project focuses on collecting data to determine the validity and reliability of this new assay by exposing transgenic Japanese medaka hatchlings to a variety of chemicals, including those that are inert or pro-estrogenic, for 24 hours. Following this exposure period, the level of fluorescence intensity in the livers of the hatchlings was measured and quantified. After statistical analysis was run, results were evaluated, and the level of fluorescence intensity matched the expected outcomes, indicating that the REACTIV assay is a valid method to detect endocrine disruption. Additionally, there were no false positive results in response to inert chemicals, giving evidence to the idea that the REACTIV assay does not produce false positives. The results from the Jeffries lab, along with the results from other laboratories around the world, have been compiled, and these data have been submitted to the OECD for further validation in hopes of adopting the REACTIV Assay for standard use in the field of toxicology |
