title: Oxygen consumption rates of grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) embryos exposed to the petroleum hydrocarbon, benzo[a]pyrene.
abstract: Bioconcentration of [14C]benzo[a]pyrene and effects of unlabeled benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) accumulation on the routine oxygen consumption of embryonic grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) were studied. At Day 15, bioconcentration factors over dissolved BaP levels ranged from 249 to 466. Weight-specific respiration rates at Days 14-15 were significantly increased (P less than or equal to 0.05) at a mean BaP body burden of 0.51 ppm wet wt. Oxygen consumption rates of embryos containing 0.70 to 12.80 ppm BaP were not significantly different from control rates. Because in a previous study embryos containing 0.51 ppm BaP exhibited hatching and developmental rates similar to those of controls, their metabolic response to low-level hydrocarbon exposure may be an example of hormesis, an overcompensating metabolic regulation to inhibitory challenges.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001822:Body Burden; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005399:Fishes; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects*; D012623:Seawater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene