Corneal Damage in Young Tigerperch (Terapon jarbua) Exposed to the Surfactant Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS)

Abstract

Bao-Quey Huang and Dar-Vi Wang (1995) Corneal damage in young tigerperch (Terapon jarbua) exposed to the surfactant linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS). Zoological Studies 34(1): 41-46. Investigations were conducted, using three different approaches, to learn how the detergent LAS (linear alkylbenzene sulfonate) influences the structure and function of the corneal epithelium in the estuarine-dwelling tigerperch (Terapon jarbua) . The membrane potentials of corneal epithelium exposed to concentrations of LAS of 0, 5, and 10 ppm changed from 7.4 ± 1.1 mV (n = 24) to 4.5 ± 0.8 mY, (n = 24) and 3.1 ± 1.0 mV (n = 24), respect ively. Exposure to LAS (5 or 10 ppm) caused dramatic thinn ing of the corneal epithelium tissue . The retinomotor responses of the pigmented epithel ium also shifted from 81.53 ± 1.72% to 68.03 ± 6.21%, and 67.77 ± 3.42% (n = 3), respectively. LAS likely caused the morpological and electrophysiological damage to the corneal epithelium and the resulting abrasion or partial opacltyot corneas , thus reduced retinomotor responses.