Exposure to Toxic Chemicals Affects Cytochrome P450 Transcript Expression in Early Development in Two Teleost Fish, Killifish and Zebrafish
Abstract
SyntheQc
chemicals
with
biological
acQvity,
many
of
which
can
adversely
affect
the
health
of
marine
organisms,
are
present
in
the
world’s
oceans.
Polychlorinated
biphenyls
(PCBs)
have
been
linked
to
endocrine
disrupQon1,
developmental
toxicity
and
neurotoxicity2.
The
killifish
populaQon
of
New
Bedford
Harbor
(NBH),
MA
has
evolved
mechanisms
to
deal
with
PCBs
and
has
remained
reproducQvely
prolific3.
Zebrafish
are
a
good
lab
model
to
test
the
sole
effects
of
maternal
PCB
treatment,
thus
eliminaQng
other
environmental
factors
that
may
affect
CYP
transcript
expression
within
the
killifish
populaQon.
Cytochrome
P450s
(CYPs),
heme-‐containing
proteins
that
funcQon
in
both
endogenous
and
exogenous
chemical
metabolism,
aid
in
the
metabolism
of
PCBs.
Li\le
is
known
as
to
whether
CYPs
contribute
to
embryonic
development
or
serve
a
funcQon
in
the
developing
xenobioQc
response
of
the
embryo.