INDUCTION OF LIVER EROD AND ERYTHROCYTIC NUCLEAR ABNORMALITIES BY CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE AND PAHS IN ANGUILLA-ANGUILLA L

The induction of liver ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity an d erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities (NA) after treatment with two dif ferent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and cyclophosphamide (C P) was investigated in the eel Anguilla anguilla L. EROD activity sign ificantly increases either 3 days after one single i.p. injection or 6 days after two i.p. injections (on days 0 and 3) of 4 mg/kg beta-naph thoflavone (BNF). EROD activity was determined after different lengths of exposure to 4 mg/kg BNF (i.p. injection). The results indicated si gnificant increases from 8-h to 12-day exposure, with a maximum increa se at 4 days and a decline between 4 and 12 days. The induction of liv er EROD activity and erythrocytic NA was studied, 3 days after one 14. 7-mu mol/kg treatment (i.p. injection) with BNF, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and CP, in three three different groups of eels. The EROD activity si gnificantly increases after BNF and BaP treatment, whereas the erythro cytic NA frequency was kept constant; however, CP induces a significan t increase in the erythrocytic NA frequency, but it does not induce a significant increase in liver EROD activity. The sensitivity of A. ang uilla liver EROD assay was assessed 3 days after one i.p. injection of BNF (0.0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mg/kg). Thi s species exhibits a dose response to BNF at the concentration range 0 -4 mg/kg. The NOEL is between 0.125 and 0.25 mg/kg. The eels 3-day exp osure to water containing BNF (0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.9, and 2.7 mu M) induc ed a significant increase in liver EROD activity, specifically in conc entrations of 0.9 and 2.7 mu M. The NOEC for the eels external exposur e to BNF is between 0.3 and 0.9 mu M. (C) 1998 Academic Press.