Cytochromes P-450 in fish larvae: Immunochemical detection of responses to oil pollution

Abstract
Rabbit antiserum against the major β-naphthoflavone-inducible cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme purified from cod (Gadus morhua L.), liver were used as an immunochemical probe to detect responses of cod larvae to oil-exposure. Cod eggs were fertilized, reared and exposed in a system allowing full control of the concentration of water soluble compounds from crude North Sea oil. The immunochemical response in homogenates of whole larvae were shown to reflect the exposure in a dose-dependent manner. The study shows that cod larvae do respond to oil-exposure with induced cytochrome P-450 synthesis, and that immunochemical probes of cytochrome P-450 induction can be a valuable tool in monitoring marine pollution.