Polar cod Boreogadus saida an indicator species for biomonitoring in the Arctic was exposed to crude oil in waterborne and dietary experiments. Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity was measured in liver and gills of polar cod at weeks 0, 2 and 4 of exposure and following 2 weeks of depuration. EROD increased significantly and dose-dependently in both tissues through both exposure routes. Levels were very low in gills compared to liver reflecting the tissue-specific metabolism capacities and tissue-specific response kinetics were also observed. Furthermore, a significant increase of gill EROD was shown in dietary exposed fish, demonstrating a substantial transport of PAHs via the systemic circulation. To conclude, this study gave some preliminary information on the EROD response in terms of levels, dose dependency and timing, in gills of PAH exposed polar cod.
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