effects of beta-naphthoflavone and 3-methylcholantheren on biochemical markers in sturgeon fish, huso huso

Background: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pahs) are a predominant group of contaminants that have been shown to accumulate and persist in marine organisms. we evaluated the dose-dependent induction of the cytochrome p4501a (cyp1a) system in the sturgeon fish, huso huso after after exposure to pahs, beta-naphthoflavone (bnf) and 3- methylcholantheren.methods: the fish were treated by i.p. injections of beta–naphthoflavone and 3- methylcholantheren dissolved in corn oil at three doses 35, 70 and 105 mg/kg wet-body weight respectively for 72 h every day. similarly, the control fish received injections of only corn oil. microsomal fraction was prepared and ethoxy resorufin-o-deethylase activity (erod) was measured in the fish liver. cytochrome p4501a1 (cyp1a1) content was estimated by elisa based on monoclonal anti-cod p4501a1.results: beta-naphthoflovone and 3-methylcholantheren treated-fish developed 15-32 fold increase in ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase activity in liver microsomes. the results of elisa showed higher levels of cytochrome p4501a content in treated fish as compared to controls.conclusion: a parallel increase of the cyp1a immunochemically assay and an increase in erod activity could be recorded for beta –naphthoflavone and 3- methylcholantheren in injected fish. dose-response relationships on the induction of erod and cyp1a immunodetectable protein were recorded. therefore, erod activity and cyp1a content can be used as a biomarker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.