Ecotoxicological Characterization of Type C Killer Whales From Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica): Molecular Biomarkers, Legacy, and Emerging Persistent Organic Contaminants

Abstract

Among killer whale forms, type C is a fish-eating form and is the most common in the Ross Sea. In the austral summer 2015, a study was conducted to evaluate the toxicological hazard these marine mammals face in the Antarctic ecosystem. Seven biopsy samples were collected from adult individuals (five males and two females) in the surroundings of the Italian Research Station Mario Zucchelli, Terra Nova Bay, by remote dart sampling from the pack ice. The accumulation levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as legacy (DDTs, PCBs, and HCB) and emerging (PBDEs and DP) were measured. Moreover, the protein expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1 and 2B) and the mRNA level variations of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α and γ (PPARα-γ) and the estrogen receptor α (ERα), aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and Cyp1a were evaluated. Twenty PCB congeners, six DDTs, HCB, three HCHs, and fourteen brominated BDEs and DP-syn and anti-isomers were analyzed on freeze-dried blubber biopsy samples by GC-MS. The protein expression was evaluated by Western Blot and the mRNA levels were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR. The average abundance pattern for the contaminants was DDTs > PCBs > HCB > HCHs ≈ PBDEs >> DP. Contaminant levels resulted to be lower when compared to the existing data from the Antarctic type C killer whales from the McMurdo Sound (Ross Sea) and those reported for fish-eating killer whales worldwide. The mRNA levels of the five target genes were successfully quantified, but no statistical correlation was found with POP levels, suggesting that either the low levels of quantified POPs in blubber may not significantly affect the biological responses investigated, or that other stressors could contribute to the alterations of the molecular biomarkers. Although the results showed a lower risk related to contamination compared to more impacted areas, this study provides baseline data for the conservation of this species in an area with high ecological value, recently declared as the largest Marine Protected Area in Antarctica, where pollutants should remain at minimum levels despite increasing multiple stresses existing in the region.

Establishment of Killer Whale (Orcinus Orca) Primary Fibroblast Cell Cultures and Their Transcriptomic Responses to Pollutant Exposure

“…Field-based studies on false killer whale blubber (Pseudorca crassidens) and white whale liver have suggested that CYP1A1 expression may be suppressed in the most polluted individuals (Foltz et al, 2014;Wilson et al, 2005). However, several cetacean studies have also reported higher CYP1A levels in animals with higher tissue levels of pollutants (mainly ΣPCBs or planar PCBs) (Fossi et al, 2010;Noël et al, 2014;Panti et al, 2011;White et al, 1994;Wilson et al, 2005), while no significant correlation was found between CYP1A in the skin and levels of ΣPCBs or subgroups of PCBs in the blubber of Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) (Baini et al, 2020), or between CYP1A1 levels in skin and ΣPCB and ΣDDT levels in blubber of low polluted (ΣPCBs: 0.42-3.97 ug g − 1 lw) killer whales from Antarctica (Panti et al, 2022). The POP Fig.…”

“…Despite good overall knowledge about occurrences and concentrations of PCBs and OCPs in killer whales worldwide (Panti et al, 2022;Andvik et al, 2020;Desforges et al, 2018;Pedro et al, 2017), there is a lack of information about causal relationships between their exposure and adverse health effects, as well as a poor understanding of their modes of action. As conducting ecotoxicological research on whales is challenging due to ethical, technical, and legal issues, establishing alternative approaches with reduced impacts are needed (Fossi and Panti, 2018).…”