INDUCTION OF CYP1A IN JAPANESE MEDAKA EXPOSED TO CARBONACEOUS PITCHESVIA WATER

The objective of these studies was to characterize hepatic Cyp1A induc tion by complex carbonaceous pitches both in Japanese medaka exposed v ia aquarium water and in cultured fish liver cells. Carbonaceous pitch es were extracted with DMSO and added to aquaria water of medaka or to cultured medaka or trout liver cells, and Cyp1A induction was assesse d by EROD assay. When medaka were exposed to different carbonaceous pi tches, EROD activity was induced to different extents, and increased E ROD induction was associated with increasing temperature of hydrogenat ion. EROD induction in cultured fish liver cells was somewhat less sen sitive than that observed in vivo, These studies indicate Cyp1A induct ion in medaka can be used to detect compounds, such as polyaromatic hy drocarbons, in complex samples and could be used as a biomarker for th e presence of these compounds in the environment. Copyright (C) 1996 E lsevier Science Ltd.