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Relationship between biomarkers of contaminant exposure and toxicopathic lesions in marine fish

Conference ·
OSTI ID:197526
Fish residing in contaminated habitats incur a variety of biological effects as a result of their exposure to chemical contaminants. These effects include impaired reproduction, reduced growth, and toxicopathic disease. Strong correlations have been demonstrated between the occurrence of some of these conditions and the levels of certain classes of contaminants in fish tissues and the sediments at sampling sites, on the West, East, and Gulf Coasts of the USA. Moreover, relative risks for development of toxicopathic liver disease in bottom fish have been estimated for several chemical and biological risk factors at a large number of sites. The authors are currently determining the relationships between biomarkers of contaminant exposure and the presence of several liver diseases in these fish species. Biomarkers thus far incorporated into these calculations include levels of fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACS) in bile, hepatic activities and levels of cytochrome P4501A (CYPLA), and levels of hepatic DNA adducts. All of these have shown statistically significant positive relationships with preneoplastic and/or neoplastic lesions in English sole (Pleuronectes vetulus). More recently, the authors have focused on differences in cellular expression of CYPLA as they may relate to the eventual outcome of contaminant exposure, utilizing benthic fish species which show markedly different susceptibilities to contaminant-induced neoplasia. Through use of immunohistochemical localization of CYPLA, combined with quantitative measurement by image analysis and color thresholding, the authors have demonstrated markedly different patterns of cellular expression, consistent with cellular patterns of pathological injury, These results have helped substantially to determine the relevance of biomarker responses with respect to biological damage.
OSTI ID:
197526
Report Number(s):
CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English