Mixed function oxidase induction in Carcinus aestuarii. Field and experimental studies for the evaluation of toxicological risk due to Mediterranean contaminants

The aim of this study was to test and validate the use of mixed function ox idase (MFO) induction, in the crab Carcinus aestuarii, under experimental a nd field studies, for the evaluation of toxicological risk due to the main contaminants in the Mediterranean. Two different experiments were performed in the laboratory in order to identify the most suitable tissues for MFO s tudies in this species and the most suitable and sensitive MFO responses fo r evaluating chemical stress due to lipophilic contaminants. In order to va lidate this methodology in the field, two studies were carried out in two p olluted Mediterranean lagoons: a transplant experiment in Orbetello Lagoon and an in situ experiment in Venice Lagoon. The following MFO responses wer e investigated in hepatopancres and gills of the crabs: ethoxyresorufin-O-d eethylase (EROD) and benzo(alpha)pyrene hydroxylase (BPH) activities and re ductase enzyme activities. The main results can be summarised as follows: m idgut-gland and gills were confirmed to be useful for MFO tests; BPH activi ty in hepatopancreas was the most suitable and sensitive MFO response for e valuating chemical stress due to Mediterranean contaminants in laboratory a nd field studies; in the Orbetello Lagoon experiment, a statistically signi ficant difference was found between sites subject to different human impact . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.