Separation and characterization of gall bladder bile metabolites from speckled trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, exposed to individual polycyclic aromatic compounds

Speckled trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, were orally exposed to individual po lycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) represented by benzo[a]pyrene, carbazole , chrysene, dibenzofuran, dibenzothiophene, fluorene, phenanthrene,and pyre ne. Fish were sacrificed 7 d after exposure and the gall bladder removed fo r bile analysis. High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescen ce (F) and ultraviolet (UV) detection was used to determine the presence of PAC derivatives in the bile without pretreatment. Glucuronide conjugates w ere predominant in all exposures with variable amounts (0-53%) of phenols a nd starting material. Identification of compounds was confirmed by selectiv e extraction of less polar nonconjugated PACs and enzymatic hydrolysis of w ater-soluble material. This was followed by HPLC and/or gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GCMS) characterization of the produced phenols. Total me tabolite levels varied widely among compounds.