W9 PM Residual Oil and its Effects
Wednesday, 16 November 2005: 1:50 PM - 5:30 PM in 339-340

(CAR-1117-740747) Cytochrome P4501A induction in oil-exposed pink salmon embryos predicts reduced survival potential.

Carls, M¹, Heintz, R¹, Marty, G², Rice, S¹, ¹ NOAA, NMFS, Auke Bay Lab, Juneau, Alaska, USA² U C Davis, School of Veternary Medicine, Davis, California, USA

ABSTRACT- Cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) induction in pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) embryos exposed to crude oil is linked to adverse effects at cellular, organismal, and population levels and can be used to predict these responses. When combined with the results of this experiment, designed to examine CYP1A induction during embryonic stages and growth after emergence, results from a series of experiments spanning four other brood years demonstrate that CYP1A induction is related to a variety of lethal and sublethal effects, including poorer marine survival, reduced growth, and abnormalities. The lowest observed effective concentration of total polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in water that caused significant physiological responses, including reduced size 6 mo after exposure ended (about 1 ppb PAH, was less than the lowest concentration that caused significant CYP1A induction (about 3.7 ppb PAH). Thus, CYP1A induction is not only a biomarker, it can be considered a bioindicator; induction in early life stages implies long-term negative consequences for the individual and the population.

Key words: Cytochrome P450 1 A, PAH biomarker, embryo