Comparison of biomarker and pathological responses in flounder ( Platichthys flesus L.) induced by ingested polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 52; no. 7; pp. 1135 - 1145
• Main Authors: Reynolds, W.J., Feist, S.W., Jones, G.J., Lyons, B.P., Sheahan, D.A., Stentiford, G.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Bile - chemistry; Bile metabolites; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - analysis; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 - analysis; DNA adducts; DNA Adducts - drug effects; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Environmental Monitoring; EROD; Female; Flounder - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Histopathology; Liver - enzymology; Liver - ultrastructure; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Organ Specificity; PAH; Platichthys flesus; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - metabolism; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - toxicity; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Platichthys flesus; EROD; Histopathology; DNA adducts; Bile metabolites; PAH; Disease; Hydrocarbon; Metabolite; Biological marker; Polycyclic aromatic compound; Biological monitoring; Marine environment; Vertebrata; Pisces; Water pollution; Biological effect; Comparative study; Bile; Chemical contamination
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/S0045-6535(03)00332-1

This study investigated the response of biomarker measurements and histopathological indicators of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure in the flounder ( Platichthys flesus L.). Flounder were fed food spiked with a mixture of four PAHs at an environmentally relevant range of concentrations for either one or six months. Ethoxyresorufin- O-deethylase (EROD) activity was elevated following 1 month exposure to PAH concentrations up to 50 mg kg −1 in food. Bile metabolite concentrations were found to increase with PAH concentration, up to 500 mg kg −1 PAH. By comparison, no DNA adducts were detected and there were no significant histopathological changes observed. After 6 months exposure, EROD levels were not elevated but bile metabolites showed a similar dose dependent relationship as in the 1 month experiment, while DNA adducts were only detected in the highest PAH exposure groups. No significant histopathological changes were observed. The results are discussed with respect to the implications for the use of these methods in environmental monitoring studies.