MIXED-FUNCTION OXYGENASE INDUCTION IN PRE-SPAWN AND POST-SPAWN HERRING (CLUPEA PALLASI) BY PETROLEUM-HYDROCARBONS

We compared the uptake of water-accommodated fractions of Alaska North Slope crude oil in pre- and post-spawn herring (Clupea pallasi) and t he resulting induction of mixed function oxygenase activity. Both grou ps of herring accumulated significant quantities of polycyclic aromati c hydrocarbons in muscle tissue. Pre-spawn herring accumulated higher concentrations of hydrocarbons and retained them longer. Induction of mixed function oxygenase activity in pre-spawn fish was one-third to o ne-half that in post-spawn fish. Inability of pre-spawn herring to ind uce mixed function oxygenases at as high a level as post-spawn fish ma y explain higher tissue concentrations and retention of hydrocarbons i n the pre-spawn animals. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.