Induction of EROD activity and genotoxic effects by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and resin acids on the juvenile eel (Anguilla anguilla L.).

The purpose of this research is the study of total ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity and erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities (NA) induction by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and resin acids (RAs) on the juvenile eel Anguilla anguilla L. Juvenile eels were exposed, during 3 days, to the same molar concentration range (0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.9, and 2.7 microM) of beta-naphthoflavone (BNF) and benzo[a]pyrene (BP)--PAHs--and abietic acid (AA) and dehydroabietic acid (DHAA)--RAs--and one alkylating agent, such as cyclophosphamide (CP). Results revealed that both PAHs are able to significantly increase total EROD activity at 0.9 and 2.7 microns, and both RAs at 0.3 microM, whereas NA frequency was significantly increased by BP at 0.9 microM and DHAA at 2.7 microM. BNF was found to be the most potent EROD inducer, and BP exhibited the highest mutagenic potential. An additional experiment was carried out in order to study the BNF total EROD and NA induction over a period of 3, 6, and 9 days. An increased length of exposure, beyond 3 days, does not proportionally increase total EROD activity. However, 6 and 9 days BNF exposure significantly increases NA, reaching the (NA) levels previously determined for 3 days 0.9 microM BP exposure.