Chemical carcinogenesis in feral fish: uptake, activation, and detoxication of organic xenobiotics

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8771155· OSTI ID:6516281

Varanasi, U; Stein, J E; Nishimoto, M; Reichert, W L; Collier, T K

The high prevalance of liver neoplasms in English sole (Parophrys vetulus) and substantially lower prevalence of neoplasms in a closely related species, starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) captured from industrialized waterways, provide a unique opportunity to compare biochemical processes involved in chemical carcinogenesis in feral fish species. Because levels of aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs) in urban sediments are correlated with prevalences of liver neoplasms in English sole, the authors have initiated detailed studies to evaluate the effects of endogenous and exogenous factors on uptake, activation and detoxication of carcinogenic AHs, such as benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), using spectroscopic, chromatographic, and radiometric techniques. The results obtained thus far show that sole readily takes up AHs associated with sediment from urban areas and that the presence of other xenobiotics, such as PCBs, in sediment increases tissue concentrations of BaP metabolites. Extensive metabolism of BaP occurred whether sole was exposed to this AH via sediment, per os, or intraperitoneally. Substantial modification of hepatic DNA occurred and persisted for a period of 2-4 weeks after a single exposure to BaP. The level of covalent binding of BaP intermediates to hepatic DNA was 10-fold higher in juvenile than adult sole and 90-fold higher in juvenile sole than in Sprague-Dawley rat, a species which is resistant to BaP-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. These results, along with the authors findings that hepatic GST activity in flounder was two times higher than in sole, demonstrate that microsomal metabolism of BaP does not accurately reflect the differences in the ability of these fish to form BaP-DNA adducts in vivo and also suggest that detoxication of reactive intermediates is an important factor in determining the levels of DNA modification by AHs and resulting toxic effects in feral fish.

• Research Organization: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA
• OSTI ID: 6516281
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States) Vol. 71; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550501 -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
BENZOPYRENE
BILE
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARCINOGENESIS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DETOXIFICATION
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
FISHES
FLUORESCENCE
GLANDS
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIQUID COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY
LIVER
LUMINESCENCE
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METABOLIC ACTIVATION
METABOLITES
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOGENESIS
RATS
RODENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES
XENOBIOTICS