title: Tissue-specific contaminant accumulation and associated effects on hepatic serum analytes and cytochrome P450 enzyme activities in hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) from the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
abstract: The current study aims to assess contaminant levels and tissue burdens in hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) blubber, liver, and blood in association with cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes (CYP1A and -3A) and serum analytes (hepatic enzymes like alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase [AP], and gamma-glutamyltransferase [GGT], serum proteins, and creatine kinase). Contaminant accumulation levels and patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorinated pesticides, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) differed between tissues and seal groups, with the highest levels in liver. Pups showed higher liver contaminant levels, especially for PBDEs, than adults. These high levels might be associated with the ingestion of large amounts of contaminated milk and subsequent accumulation in the liver. Adult males and females mainly differed in PBDE levels, which were higher in females, possibly due to a sex-specific diet. The association between blubber contaminant burdens and the diagnostic enzymes ALT, GGT, and AP, and serum albumin, was inconclusive. In contrast, several CYP isoenzymes showed a clear positive relationship with the overall blubber contaminant burden, indicating enzyme induction following exposure to polyhalogenated hydrocarbons. Therefore, liver CYP isoenzymes may serve as a sensitive biomarker for long-term exposure to polyhalogenated hydrocarbons.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Polar Institute, Polar Environmental Centre, Hjalmar Johansensgt. 14, 9296 Tromsø, Norway. hans.wolkers@npolar.no
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wolkers
authors.forename: France
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boily
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fink-Gremmels
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Bavel
authors.forename: Mike O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Hammill
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Primicerio
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D001822:Body Burden; D002170:Canada; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004798:Enzymes / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D004798:Enzymes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System