Effects of sequential exposure to water accommodated fraction of crude oil and chlorpyrifos on molecular and biochemical biomarkers in rainbow trout

Abstract

Fish can be simultaneously or sequentially exposed to various kinds of pollutants, resulting in combined effects. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons induce cytochrome P450 monooxygenase 1A (CYP1A) expression, which catalyzes the conversion of the organophosphorus insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) into its most active derivative, CPF-oxon. CPF-oxon inhibits CYP1A and other enzymes, including carboxylesterases (CEs) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). We studied the effects of an in vivo exposure to crude oil water accommodated fraction (WAF) followed by an ex vivo exposure of liver tissue to CPF on the expression of Cyp1a, AhR and ARNT mRNA, CYP1A protein and on the activity of biomarker enzymes in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Juvenile rainbow trout were exposed to WAF (62 μg L−1 TPH) for 48 h. Then, liver was dissected out, sliced and exposed to 20 μg L−1 CPF ex vivo for 1 h. Liver tissue was analyzed for mRNA and protein expression and for CEs, AChE, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and CYP1A (EROD) activity. WAF induced Cyp1a mRNA and CYP1A protein expression by 10-fold and 2.5–8.3-fold, respectively, with no effect of CPF. WAF induced AhR expression significantly (4-fold) in control but not in CPF treated liver tissue. ARNT mRNA expression was significantly lowered (5-fold) by WAF. CPF significantly reduced liver EROD activity, independently of WAF pre-treatment. CEs activity was significantly inhibited in an additive manner following in vivo exposure to WAF (42%) and ex vivo exposure to CPF (19%). CPF exposure inhibited AChE activity (37%) and increased GST activity (42%).