Atrazine is an immune disruptor in adult northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens).

Atrazine, the most widely used herbicide in the United States, has been shown in several studies to be an endocrine disruptor in adult frogs. Results from this study indicate that atrazine also functions as an immune disruptor in frogs. Exposure to atrazine (21 ppb for 8 d) affects the innate immune response of adult Rana pipiens in similar ways to acid exposure (pH 5.

Acid exposure is an immune disruptor in adult Rana pipiens.

Acidic environments are physiological stressors for amphibians. The objective of the present study was to document the effect of an acidic environment on innate immune system function under controlled experimental conditions in Rana pipiens. We developed an in vivo assay, by injecting a suspension of 1-microm fluorescent beads in fluid thioglycollate, to induce peritonitis.

Effects of acid stress in adult Rana pipiens.

The decline in frog populations is a well-recognized worldwide phenomenon and infectious disease has been implicated as a major cause in the global decline of amphibian populations. Rana pipiens are disappearing from many habitats where they used to flourish, and environmental acidification has been considered as a possible contributor to this disappearance. We present a model that integrates the results of several experiments on the effects of acid exposure on natural resistance and mortality of adult Rana pipiens.