Using cytochrome P4501A1 expression in liver and blubber to understand effects of persistent organic pollutant exposure in stranded Pacific Island cetaceans

Published

April 18, 2015

Author(s)

Melannie J. Bachman, Jennifer M. Lynch, Kerry Foltz, Kristi West, Brenda Jensen

Abstract

Elevated levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been reported in tropical Pacific Island cetaceans and their environment. In addition, recent health concerns in cetacean populations have warranted investigation into potential physiological effects from POP exposure for this region. Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) is a potential candidate for examining such effects. This well-studied biomarker of exposure and effect was examined in stranded cetacean liver using immunoblot (n = 39, 16 species) and blubber using immunohistochemistry (n = 23, 10 species). Paired tissue samples allowed for CYP1A1 comparisons not only between species, but also within each individual animal in order to examine differences between tissue types. Liver CYP1A1 expression correlated positively and significantly with blubber concentrations of all POP categories (n = 39, p 0.100). Among Stenella species, liver CYP1A1 tissue expression was correlated negatively with the sum of all blubber layer endothelial cell CYP1A1 expression (n = 14, p = 0.060). Overall, elevated expression of liver CYP1A1 confirms its use as a biomarker and indicates health effects from POP exposure to cetaceans stranded in the tropical Pacific basin.

Citation

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

aquatic toxicology, biomarkers, cytochrome p450, persistant organic pollutants (POPs), cetacean, Hawaii

Citation

Bachman, M. , Lynch, J. , Foltz, K. , West, K. and Jensen, B. (2015), Using cytochrome P4501A1 expression in liver and blubber to understand effects of persistent organic pollutant exposure in stranded Pacific Island cetaceans, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=916040 (Accessed January 13, 2025)