No abstract

Chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC) levels in the blubber of larga seals (Phoca largha) and ribbon seals (Phoca fasciata) collected from the coastal waters of Hokkaido, Japan, were determined in order to assess the hormonal effects of CHC exposure in free-ranging pinnipeds. Plasma thyroid hormone levels, including total thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (free T4), total triiodothyronine (T3), and free triiodothyronine (free T3), were also measured. Higher concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites, and chlordane compounds were found in the range of 380 to 2,600 ng/g, 350 to 2,600 ng/g, and 120 to 760 ng/g on a wet-weight basis, respectively. Spearman rank correlation analyses showed that in larga seals, plasma total T3 and free T3 levels negatively correlated with levels of all the CHCs analyzed, although there was no such correlation between total or free T4 levels and CHC concentrations. In ribbon seals, total T3 levels significantly decreased with an increase of di-ortho PCB (PCB170 and 180) residues. These findings indicated that the plasma T3 deficiency could be associated with some CHC exposure in larga and ribbon seals and that the responses of plasma thyroid hormones may be useful biomarkers for CHC exposure in ribbon seals.

From 16 largha seals (Phoca largha) and 15 ribbon seals (Phoca fasciata) in the coastal waters of Hokkaido, Japan, blubber chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC) levels and hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) catalytic activities and their immunochemically detected protein content levels were measured. Concentrations of DDTs (2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene,p,p'-DDE; 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethane, p,p'-DDD; dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, p,p'-DDT), polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs), and chlordane compounds (oxychlordane, chlordanes, and nonachlors) in both species were in the range of 290 to 5,300, 420 to 4,000, and 130 to 1,500 ng/g lipid weight, respectively. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists, non-ortho (IUPAC 77 and 126) and mono-ortho (IUPAC 105, 118, and 156) coplanar PCB congeners, were also detected, and the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlordibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) toxic equivalents (TEQs) were 4.9 to 120 pg TEQ/g lipid weight. Cross-reactive proteins with polyclonal antibodies against rat CYP1A1 and CYP3A2 were notably detected in seal liver microsomes. Interestingly, a polyclonal antibody against rat CYP2B1 recognized proteins only at trace levels. In largha seals, both levels of alkoxyresorufin- (methoxy-, ethoxy-, pentoxy-, and benzyloxyresorufin) O-dealkylase (AROD) activities and proteins detected by polyclonal antibodies against rat CYP1A1 were significantly correlated with the concentrations of individual coplanar PCB congeners, total TEQs, and total PCBs. Threshold concentrations for TEQs in blubber of the largha seal to induce hepatic CYP1A protein and EROD activity were estimated to be 8.5 and 19 pg TEQ/g fat weight, respectively. In ribbon seals, similar correlations were not detected, although the TEQ levels were not significantly lower than those in largha seals. These results suggest that AROD activity and CYP1A1 protein in the liver of the largha seal could be a biomarker for the exposure to AhR agonists such as coplanar PCB congeners. This study also indicates differences in AhR-mediated responses to the CHC exposures between largha and ribbon seals.

Chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC) levels in the blubber of larga seals (Phoca largha) and ribbon seals (Phoca fasciata) collected from the coastal waters of Hokkaido, Japan, were determined in order to assess the hormonal effects of CHC exposure in free-ranging pinnipeds. Plasma thyroid hormone levels, including total thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (free T4), total triiodothyronine (T3), and free triiodothyronine (free T3), were also measured. Higher concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites, and chlordane compounds were found in the range of 380 to 2,600 ng/g, 350 to 2,600 ng/g, and 120 to 760 ng/g on a wet-weight basis, respectively. Spearman rank correlation analyses showed that in larga seals, plasma total T3 and free T3 levels negatively correlated with levels of all the CHCs analyzed, although there was no such correlation between total or free T4 levels and CHC concentrations. In ribbon seals, total T3 levels significantly decreased with an increase of di-ortho PCB (PCB170 and 180) residues. These findings indicated that the plasma T3 deficiency could be associated with some CHC exposure in larga and ribbon seals and that the responses of plasma thyroid hormones may be useful biomarkers for CHC exposure in ribbon seals.

The impact of environmental pollution on selected animals was tested by monitoring the hepatic content of cytochromes P450 and their enzyme activities or by calculating TEQ values from the concentration of pollutants in the body. Fish-eating Stellars Sea Eagles, Haliaeetus pelagicus, found dead in the northern part of Hokkaido island accumulated high levels of PCBs and DDT and metabolites. The TEQ values calculated from the PCB concentration in the eagles were high enough to cause a significant toxic effect in other birds living in the same environment. Some of these birds were also contaminated with high concentrations of lead. Spotted seals, Phoca largha, captured along the coast-line of Hokkaido accumulated PCBs in their fat at about 100 million times the concentrations in the surface sea water. The levels of expressions of hepatic microsomal CYP 1A1and related enzyme activities in these seals showed good correlation to the levels of PCBs accumulated in the fat. The fresh water crabs, Eriocheir japonicus, were captured from three different rivers with various degrees of pollution. The P450 content and the related enzyme activities showed good correlation to TEQ values obtained from the concentrations of PCBs and PCDDs in the crabs from the rivers. The wild rodents, Clethrionomys rufocanus, were captured from urban, agricultural, and forest areas in Hokkaido. Those from the forest area had the lowest CYP content and related enzyme activities, comparable to those in laboratory-raised animals. Those from the urban areas, presumably contaminated with PAHs from fuel combustion, showed increased CYP 1A1 content and related enzyme activities. Those from the agricultural areas showed increased levels of CYP 1A1, 2B, 2E1. Rats treated with some of the agrochemicals used in the area resulted in a similar pattern of induction. It is concluded that P450 can be a useful biomarker for assessing the environmental impact of chemical pollutants on wild animals.

From 16 largha seals (Phoca largha) and 15 ribbon seals (Phoca fasciata) in the coastal waters of Hokkaido, Japan, blubber chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC) levels and hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) catalytic activities and their immunochemically detected protein content levels were measured. Concentrations of DDTs (2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene,p,p'-DDE; 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethane, p,p'-DDD; dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, p,p'-DDT), polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs), and chlordane compounds (oxychlordane, chlordanes, and nonachlors) in both species were in the range of 290 to 5,300, 420 to 4,000, and 130 to 1,500 ng/g lipid weight, respectively. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists, non-ortho (IUPAC 77 and 126) and mono-ortho (IUPAC 105, 118, and 156) coplanar PCB congeners, were also detected, and the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlordibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) toxic equivalents (TEQs) were 4.9 to 120 pg TEQ/g lipid weight. Cross-reactive proteins with polyclonal antibodies against rat CYP1A1 and CYP3A2 were notably detected in seal liver microsomes. Interestingly, a polyclonal antibody against rat CYP2B1 recognized proteins only at trace levels. In largha seals, both levels of alkoxyresorufin- (methoxy-, ethoxy-, pentoxy-, and benzyloxyresorufin) O-dealkylase (AROD) activities and proteins detected by polyclonal antibodies against rat CYP1A1 were significantly correlated with the concentrations of individual coplanar PCB congeners, total TEQs, and total PCBs. Threshold concentrations for TEQs in blubber of the largha seal to induce hepatic CYP1A protein and EROD activity were estimated to be 8.5 and 19 pg TEQ/g fat weight, respectively. In ribbon seals, similar correlations were not detected, although the TEQ levels were not significantly lower than those in largha seals. These results suggest that AROD activity and CYP1A1 protein in the liver of the largha seal could be a biomarker for the exposure to AhR agonists such as coplanar PCB congeners. This study also indicates differences in AhR-mediated responses to the CHC exposures between largha and ribbon seals.

No abstract