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U.S. Department of Energy
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EROD induction in microsomes and primary hepatocyte cultures prepared from individual double-crested cormorant embryo livers

Conference ·
OSTI ID:85965
; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of California, Davis, CA (United States)

Double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) are being studied as a high trophic level indicator species for toxic contamination in San Francisco Bay and other locations on the California coast. In 1993, median ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase (EROD) activities in embryo liver microsomes sampled from San Francisco Bay colonies were 4.2-fold and 2.3-fold higher than two coastal locations. In 1994 cormorant embryo livers from these same locations were again analyzed for liver microsomal EROD activity. In addition, basal and maximal EROD activity were measured in primary hepatocyte cultures from portions of the same livers used for microsomal EROD analysis to determine whether factors other than contaminant burdens in the egg contribute to the observed differences in activity. Differences in basal activity and induction capacity among the populations are discussed in the context of the hypothesis that polluted habitats select for increased metabolic capacity in affected populations.

OSTI ID:
85965
Report Number(s):
CONF-9410273--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English